14 July 2016 - A five-member team from the Philippine Embassy in Ankara visited Istanbul, Turkey to conduct its monthly mission in the country for 2016.

The team provided services to 88 clients in Istanbul, Turkey. During the consular services, held at the Lazzoni Hotel, Istanbul, the Team processed 18 e-passport applications, four lost e-passports, five (5) SPAs, one LCCM, one travel document, one certificate, one affidavit; one marriage was solemnized by the Consul General.

On June 25 the Team had a cultural immersion to explore and appreciate Byzantine art/history at Chora church and Edirnekapi (Edirne Gate) on the Byzantine walls of Istanbul.

Minister and Consul General Robert Ferrer hosted an Iftar (fast-breaking) dinner in honor of Filipino Students in Istanbul, namely Abdulhamid Gunda, Muhammad Ashraf Sarip, Donna Gift Cabalo, Faozah Uyan, Fatima Shakira Nikabulin, Hammad Yacob, Maria Lourdes Ebio, Muhammad Yusoph Ramos, Ridwan Landasan, and Yassen Ala.  The students promised to organize themselves and continue partnering with the Embassy in joint projects.

The dinner provided an opportunity for the students to formally thank the Embassy for the successful inaugural dinner in honor of Filipino graduating students in Istanbul held at Point Hotel in Istanbul on May 28.  Mr. Mehmet Biter (an associate of former Consul General a.h. in Istanbul, Mr. Ersin Karaoglan) hosted another Iftar dinner for the Team on June 26, which allowed them to experience local culture in observing Iftar in a family home setting.  It was also an opportunity to thank, on behalf of the Embassy, Mr. Biter for his voluntary services rendered for Philippine visitors to Istanbul.

On June 27, Minister and Consul General Robert Ferrer met with Dr. Halit Eren, Director-General, Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul to discuss historic documents related to Philippines – Ottoman Turkey exchanges particularly in the search for evidence of a visit by Dr. Jose Rizal’s in Turkey, and also to examine their holdings of books about the Philippines, mostly on Mindanao and the Bangsamoro.

As part of its Economic Diplomacy research mission, the Team found ADIDAS sports shirts made in the Philippines being sold in one of the malls (ViaPort) outside Istanbul, Turkey. END