04 November 2016 — The Philippine Embassy in Prague hosted the closed-door meeting of the Board of Directors and Country Representatives of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora (ENFiD) at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Embassy on September 16, during the latter’s 3rd Annual General Assembly (AGA) at the CSVTS, Novotného lávka 5, Prague 1, Czech Republic from September 16 to 18.
About 101 Filipino community leaders from 15 European countries and Israel participated in the Assembly. ENFID’s AGA’s theme was “The Filipino community in Europe facing the challenges while maximizing the potential in the spirit of inclusiveness.”
The Philippine Embassy in Prague promoted Gender and Development (GAD) in the General Assembly and invited Markéta Hronková, Director and National Coordinator of La Strada Czech Republic, the only NGO in Czechia which specializes in solving problems caused by human trafficking which offers help to trafficked victims and exploited persons to speak during ENFiD’s Board of Directors and Country Representatives Meeting September 16.
The Embassy also invited the Head of International Organization for Migration (IOM) Prague Office, Ms. Lucie Sládková, to speak on Gender and Development at during the ENFiD’s 3rd Annual General Assembly.
Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros, in his welcoming speech at the General Assembly, encouraged the participants to continue their work in bringing together Filipinos from 17 European countries including Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, Romania, France, Ireland, Malta, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Austria plus Israel.
Among the government representatives who attended the 3rd ENFiD General Assembly were Ambassador Lecaros (Philippine Embassy in Prague); First Secretary and Consul Juan E. Dayang, Jr.; Second Secretary and Vice Consul Oliver Delfin (Philippine Embassy in Brussels); and Ms. Maria Reginal Galias, OIC of the Commission of Filipinos Overseas.
The ENFiD delegates were invited by the Embassy to the 5th ASEAN Film Festival at the Lucerna Theatre for the screening of Paul Soriano’s “Kid Kulafu” on September 16. On their part, ENFiD promoted Philippine culture through an art exhibit of well-known and emerging Filipino artists organized and curated by ENFiD Board Director Ver Cuizon. At the closing of the General Assembly, Mr. Quizon donated a painting of Jose Rizal by renowned painter Rene Robles.
At the conclusion of the 3rd ENFiD General Assembly in Prague, the organization’s Executive Director Rohlee De Guzman sent a letter acknowledging the support of the Philippine Embassy in Prague and cited Ambassador Lecaros and First Secretary and Consul Dayang for their support.
ENFiD aims to be the voice of Filipino community in Europe and promote Filipino solidarity and theFilipino community’s interests in Europe. END
