06 June 2014 – Philippine Consul General Marichu Mauro met on May 30 with the Filipino association leaders from Modena and Parma and the Filipino chaplain, Father Graziano Gavioli, to get to know the Filipino communities in these areas and discuss their members’ concerns.
Consul General Mauro started the meeting by thanking the chaplaincy for organizing and offering the parish premises for the said meeting. Important issues discussed were consular procedures, scheduling of consular mobile services, and cooperation on programs that will benefit the Filipino communities in Modena, such as financial literacy training and values formation. It was a fruitful exchange of ideas on future collaborations between the Philippine Consulate General in Milan and the associations in Modena and Parma.
There are about 3,000 Filipinos living in Modena and about 3,000 more in Parma. Many work in households, restaurants and factories. The communities request regular mobile assistance to save time and money from travelling to Milan and avail of consular services.
Consul General Mauro assured the Filipinos that the Consulate General remains fully aware of the needs of the growing Filipino communities under its jurisdiction. Consul General Mauro reiterated her commitment to bring the Consulate General and its services closer to Filipinos residing outside Milan.
Modena, a medieval town located in the Emilia Romagna region, is popular for its production of balsamic vinegar. It is also known as the “capital of engines” since it houses the factories of Italian car makers like Ferrari and Maserati. Its city center boasts off a 12th century Romanesque cathedral, the Ghirlandina Bell Tower and the Piazza Grande which are recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as World Heritage Sites. END