14 January 2015 – Philippine Consul General Marichu Mauro held her first dialogue with the community this year with the Filipinos in Verona in the Veneto region of Italy. Held last January 11 at the Maria della Pace Church, Consul General Mauro conducted an open forum with the Filipinos in attendance to address their concerns especially with regards to their consular needs.

Consul General Mauro outlined the many programs of the Consulate General  for 2015 including a planned mobile consular service in Verona in March. She also invited the Filipino Community in Verona to participate in the National Day celebrations to be held in Milan in June and to support the Philippines’ participation at the Venice Biennale this year.

The Filipino community in Verona organized a special program for the Consul General’s visit. The program started with a Holy Mass officiated by Fr. Ronnie Lacaniente, the Chaplain of the Filipino community in Verona. Lunch was then served and a short program of song and dances was presented. Then Consul Mauro was asked to pick a winner amongst the entries from a drawing contest held the day before to commemorate Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines. Winners were then announced and prizes awarded.

Holding dialogues with the community is an important part of Philippine Consulate in Milan’s mission to bring the Consulate closer to the Filipinos in Northern Italy. Through these dialogues, the Consulate gets a better idea how to deliver better and efficient services to the Filipinos in Northern Italy. END