24 July 2014 – Philippine Consul General Marichu Mauro headed the consular team that travelled to Venice, Italy on July 20 to provide consular services at the Campo della Fava church, where Filipino community also gathers every Sunday for Holy Mass presided by their chaplain, Father Luigi Rammazzotti.

A total of 210 applicants from Venice and nearby cities availed of the services such as passports, notarials, certifications, and others. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security Services (SSS), Pag-IBIG also offered their respective services. Philippine Consul General Mauro went around to encourage Filipinos to register for overseas voters and exercise their right to vote in the 2016 national elections.

Philippine Consul General Marichu Mauro, together with OWWA Welfare Officer Cynthia Lamban and Vice Consul Helen Anne Sayo, also had a meeting with Father Rammazzotti and Filipino community President Darwin Gutierrez to talk about organizing a Filipino Language and Culture course intended for second generation Filipinos upon the request of the community. This is a pilot project of the Consulate General in coordination with OWWA to help the youth become aware and appreciates their Filipino roots. The course will include grammar and cultural activities that will run for four weeks during the summer school break.

Venice, located in the Veneto region, is one of the most visited Italian cities known for its romantic charm. Filipinos in Venice work mostly in hotels and restaurants. END