09 December 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to Cyprus Nestor Z. Ochoa met with 60 leaders and members of the Filipino community in Cyprus on December 05 at a function room of the Classic Hotel in Nicosia. Also in attendance during the meeting were Philippine Honorary Consul to Cyprus Shemaine Bushnell-Kyriakides and several personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Athens, including POLO-OWWA.

Ambassador Ochoa shared with the Filipino community that the main purpose of his visit was to present his credentials as non-resident Ambassador of the Philippines to Cyprus to the Office of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and to follow up with MFA officials, among other things, the forging of a Philippines-Cyprus Social Security Agreement. He relayed the good news from the MFA that they are working hard to finalize the agreement at the soonest possible time. Ambassador Ochoa also assured the Filipino community that the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Nicosia and the Philippine Embassy in Athens are always prepared to provide them with assistance.

An open forum followed Ambassador’s Ochoa’s remarks, where the Ambassador, along with Consul Sheila Marie Tario, Welfare Officer Rosalia Bahia-Catapang, Ms. Liwayway Ferrer of POLO-Athens, and Honorary Consul Bushnell-Kyriakides entertained questions and comments.

Ambassador Ochoa also inducted a new set of officers of the Filipino Achievers in Larnaca, Cyprus, a Filipino community organization, prior to the meeting. END