13 May 2016 - A team from the Philippine Embassy in Ankara conducted the Embassy's monthly mission in Istanbul from April 30 to May 02.

The team provided consular services to more than 40 Filipinos in Istanbul from April 30 to May 01 and processed three (3) ePassport applications, six (6) notarials, and 14 applications for Embassy ID registration for Filipinos in Turkey. The team also provided two (2) ATN consultations and released 15 passports. Overseas voting was also facilitated by the Embassy team, with 137 Filipinos having cast their votes during the consular outreach mission. The deputized Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) and Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) among the Embassy team also visited the Tuzla Port in Istanbul in the morning of May 02 to facilitate the casting of votes of seafarers whose ships are currently docked in the port. Ship Captain Romarico M. Salapunen expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the Embassy to ensure that seafarers who are in Istanbul during the overseas voting period will be able to cast their votes. A total of five seafarers voted during this port visit.

The Embassy team also met with representatives of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts on May 02 to discuss possible ways of promoting Philippine culture and arts in Turkey such as the inclusion of Filipino movies in the yearly Istanbul Film Festival, the inclusion of a Filipino artist and his/her works in the Istanbul Biennale, and promotion of Philippine designs in the Istanbul Design Biennale.

In order to highlight the different ways that ordinary Filipinos exhibit courage and bravery, the Embassy held a back-to-back commemoration/celebration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor), Labor Day and Mother's Day at the Lazzoni Hotel in Istanbul in the afternoon of May 01. More than 50 Filipinos watched documentary videos on the following: 1) the heroism and valor of ordinary Filipinos/veterans during World War II and their significant role in freeing the Philippines from the Japanese forces; 2) stories of successful reintegration of OFWs who were able to build and sustain or expand their businesses in the Philippines; and 3) the significant roles that mothers play in their children's lives.

Filipino attendees readily provided feedback on the videos shown by the Embassy during the event. Ms. Elma Trinidad and Ms. Theresa Makalinaw shared their reflections on success stories of OFW reintegration and expressed hope that they and other kababayans in Turkey will be able to return and settle down with their own businesses in the Philippines for good. Ms. Marilyn Narito and Mr. Yassen Ala, a Filipino scholar in Turkey, also spoke about successfully establishing and managing a business.

At the conclusion of the program, University of the Philippines Professor Angelito Manalili provided an empowering synthesis, where he emphasized that the Filipino people, no matter where they are, are people with courage, valor and dignity. END