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ADVISORY ON USE OF PASSPORTS AS COLLATERAL FOR LOANS
Monday, 07 April 2025
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15 July 2024 (Rome) - The Philippine Embassy in Rome conducted the  first-ever “Pinoy Ragazzi - Kumustahan sa Embahada” event on 11 July 2024 at the Embassy Social Hall participated in by fifty (50) second and third-generation young Filipinos and Filipino-Italians.  The activity aimed to empower the Filipino youth or “ragazzi” in Italian,  in Rome and the rest of Italy to pursue their studies and achieve success in their chosen career path.  

 

In his speech, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial encouraged the participants to “avail of the vast opportunities offered in Italy” and challenged them to complete their university education or any selected technical vocation to improve their family life. He cited figures from the 2022 Filipino Community in Italy report from the Italian Ministry of Labor, which stated that a mere 9.4% of Filipino workers in Italy are university graduates, 41% are high school graduates, and almost 50% of Filipinos at work have a middle school diploma. In terms of occupational types, unskilled manual labor constitute around 64% of the Filipino workforce, 23% are employed in sales, clerical, and personal service sectors, 8% belong to the skilled manual labor and 3% are executives and professionals in the intellectual and technical fields. 

 

Consul General Randy Arquiza noted that most young Filipinos would rather work after high school, trapping them in the same household work as their parents. He challenged them to surpass the generation of their parents by availing of higher education opportunities in Italy so that they could have higher earnings and better job opportunities. 

 

As an additional highlight, the event also featured inspiring testimonies of young Filipino achievers, both based in Rome and in Manila.  Dr. Arrianna Divina Mae Dueñas, one of a few Filipino licensed medical doctors in Italy, shared her success story of completing her Degree in Medicine and Surgery at the Università  Roma Tor Vergata, to inspire and motivate her fellow young Filipinos.  Ms. Ivy Stephanie Manalo, who is fluent in the Italian and Filipino languages, was present online and talked about her employment journey with Accenture Manila.

 

Officials from Accenture Manila and Naples also provided a brief overview of the IT company and the various possible job opportunities awaiting participants with a Filipino-Italian heritage  in Manila.


Ambassador Neal Imperial poses with  participants of

Pinoy Ragazzi - Kumustahan sa Embahada and with representatives of Accenture

 

Ambassador Neal Imperial delivers his inspirational message to the young Filipinos 

and Filipino-Italian participants


Mr. Giovanni Marchitto, Senior Manager, Program Management Office, Accenture Naples talks about

Accenture Italy with virtual participation from Ms. Ivy Ms. Ivy Stephanie Manalo of Accenture Manila 

 

Dr. Arrianna Divina Mae Dueñas shares her university journey to inspire and motivate  fellow young Filipinos and Filipino-Italians

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PR Meeting with Mayor Gualtieri

27 June  2024 - Ambassador Neal Imperial, receives a commemorative coin celebrating the liberation

of Rome in1944 from Rome Mayor, Honorable Roberto Gualtieri, during their meeting. They discussed

strengthening economic tiesbetween the Philippines and Italy, explored new cultural projects, and

addressed important issues concerning the Filipino community in Italy, particularly in Rome.

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DFA Statement on the Alleged Recording of a Conversation between a Chinese Diplomat and the AFP Western Command

READ #DFAStatement: Chinese diplomats have reportedly released to media the alleged transcripts or audio of an alleged conversation between the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) and a Chinese diplomat concerning the alleged “new model” arrangement on the Ayungin Shoal.

DFA Statement 09May2024

 

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Philippines to host the 1st ever UN Tourism Gastronomy Forum
 
PHILIPPINES - With the rising popularity of travel shows and travel vlogging, not to mention the regular sharing of videos and photos on social media, it only takes an internet connection for anyone to see various sights and tourist attractions all over the world. And while one can virtually gain familiarity with various tastes and dishes from all over the world, nothing beats savoring the actual thing bite by bite.
 
As travel has become more accessible, gastronomy tourism has become a major driver for travel among tourists, with the World Food Travel Association reporting that around 80% of travelers research food and drink while visiting a destination and classifies over half (53%) of all travelers as “culinary travelers.” Further, according to a 2023 report by Booking.com, 34% of travelers prioritize restaurants and dining experiences, viewing them as gateways to understanding local traditions and lifestyles.
 
Recognizing travelers’ growing interest in food and the opportunities that gastronomy holds in sustainable socio-economic development, cultural exchange, and well-being, the United Nations (UN) Tourism will organize the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific, alongside the 36th UN Tourism Joint Commission Meeting for East Asia and the Pacific and Commission for South Asia from 26-28 June 2024 in Cebu, Philippines. Hosted by the Philippines through its Department of Tourism (DOT), this highly anticipated event will be held at Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu City from 26-27 June 2024, while the 36th UN Tourism Joint Commission Meeting for East Asia and the Pacific and Commission for South Asia is scheduled on 28 June 2024 at Sheraton Mactan.
 
The event is expected to gather some 300 attendees including ministers from UN member-states, affiliate members, and tourism stakeholders from international organizations to exchange knowledge and best tourism practices in the Pacific, East, and South Asia regions.
 
The Philippines, Chair of the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific
 
Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed the DOT and stakeholders’ readiness to host the preeminent UN Tourism events, highlighting the country’s hosting as a perfect opportunity for the Philippines to showcase its culinary treasures on a global stage.
 
“As Chair of the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, the Philippines commits fully to leveraging the region’s strategic position to promote a range of initiatives that will benefit not only our country but also our neighbors, particularly, its rich and diverse gastronomy tourism portfolio. With only a few weeks left until the country’s historic hosting of the UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific, we are closely working with our partners to ensure that our forum delegates coming from all over the world will be able to immerse deep in our rich culinary traditions, and treated with nothing less than the warm hospitality that Filipinos are known for all over the world. With the full support of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and with all of our stakeholders working together—from the national government, our local government units and communities, our various stakeholders from the travel and tourism industry, we are optimistic for the success of the country’s auspicious hosting of these important tourism events,” Secretary Frasco said.
 
According to the tourism chief, the Philippines could not be a more fitting host country for the event, with the growing popularity of Filipino food across the world.
 
Home of the world’s best dishes
 
Future Market Insights valued the Philippine gastronomy tourism market at USD 5.4 billion in 2022 and it has been projected a compounded growth annually at 14.7% over the next decade. Iconic Filipino dishes such as our braised pork and chicken dish ‘adobo,’ tamarind-based sour soup ‘sinigang,’ and the ever-popular open fire-roasted ‘lechon’ and ‘sisig’ have earned praise from known food journalists in the past. For instance, the late chef and TV host Anthony Bourdain, while dining in Cebu, branded lechon the “best pig ever” and declared Pampanga’s sizzling pork medley sisig as "perfectly positioned to win the hearts and minds of the world as a whole." Food critic Andrew Zimmern, meanwhile, has gone on record to declare Filipino food as “the next big thing” in the US as early as 2017.
 
The Philippines is also home to Iloilo City, a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy, and regions such as Western Visayas, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Pampanga, and Cebu are actively engaged in the development of Slow Food programs.
 
These raves, as well as the increasing popularity of Filipino and fusion food around the world as evinced by numerous awards and citations accorded to Filipino chefs, restaurants, food, chocolate, even liquor and spirits—have encouraged the Philippines’ DOT to further promote culinary tourism, recognizing the country’s vast potential as a leading gastronomy destination in Asia.
 
Under its National Tourism Development Plan (2023-2028) approved by the President and in line with its enhanced tourism campaign, "Love the Philippines", the DOT is deep in developing more culinary tours and festivals, dining destinations, and food trail activities to further intensify the promotion and development of the country’s diverse gastronomy tourism offerings.
 
“As we intensify our diversification of the country’s tourism portfolio through multidimensional tourism, we strongly see food as a crucial element in enhancing the Philippine cultural experience. In addition to integrating food in festivals, arts and crafts, traditions, and practices, we are actively working towards supporting the development of halal/Muslim-friendly tourism, heritage villages for cultural communities, and the preservation of farms and heritage sites,” the DOT chief explained.
 
Serving more than just food, gastronomy tourism encapsulates a nation's culture, history, and traditions. For the Philippines, promoting the sector drives sustainable economic growth and enhances the country's position as a tourism powerhouse.
 
Aside from the day-long forum on June 26, 2024 which brings together tourism and gastronomy powerhouses to tackle policy framework for the development and promotion of gastronomy tourism, value of land and products in the sustainable development of gastronomy tourism, cost-effective and environmentally responsible strategies for reducing food waste and promoting local sourcing, successful best practices in gastronomy tourism in the Asia Pacific region, among others, the delegates will be able to sample the best of Philippine flavors through a showcase by top Filipino chefs, and get a glimpse of Cebu’s allure as a top tourist destination through a technical tour on 27 June 2024.
 
“The Philippines has a myriad of experiences in store for our delegates to offer tourists coming from around the world. Experiencing our food is on top of that list as it is rooted in our history and tradition. Just as the Philippines is a blend of various cultures, Filipino food mixes and melds different influences to come up with something for everyone,” the Tourism Secretary concluded.
 
DOT 1st UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific
 
 

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PH EMBASSY IN ROME PROVIDES 792 CONSULAR SERVICES TO

FILIPINOS IN BARI AND NEARBY AREAS IN PUGLIA

 

04 MAY 2024, ROME – Overseas Filipinos from different parts of the region of Puglia in Italy such as Bari, Lecce, Monopoli, Ostuni, Gallipoli, Taranto, Brindisi and many others, were served by the Philippine Embassy in Rome and its partner agencies. The team rendered a total of 792 consular and other related services during a consular outreach mission held at Parrochia del Santissimo Redentore dei Salesiani, Via Martiri D’Otranto 65 70123 Bari, Italy on 04-05 May 2024.

 

The consular outreach team, headed by Ambassador Neal Imperial and Consul General Randy B. Arquiza, facilitated passport applications, civil registry, notarization, NBI fingerprinting, consultations on assistance-to-nationals services (report of death, consular mortuary certificates, shipment of remains etc), and overseas voting registration of Filipino nationals. Consul Ma. Claribel Ochoa also administered the oath of allegiance of twenty-two (22) overseas Filipinos who applied for the retention of their Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 .

 

The Migrant Workers Office in Rome (MWO-Rome), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Rome (OWWA-Rome), and Social Security Services in Rome (SSS-Rome) also joined the mission and processed a combined total of 254 transactions. 

 

During the consular outreach mission, Consul General Arquiza and Assistant Labor Attaché Rosemarie Luntao briefed the members of the Filipino community in Puglia on the services that they could avail during the outreach mission, as well as the on-going and upcoming programs and projects of the Embassy for its clients. They also warned the public about recruitment and investment scams to prevent overseas FIlipinos and their loved ones in the Philippines from being victimized by these scams.

 

Puglia is home to 1,702 Filipinos according to the latest statistics from the Italian government. Majority of the clients served during the outreach mission were from Bari and Lecce.

 

This is the first consular outreach mission conducted by the Embassy in the region of Puglia for this year. The mission was made possible by the Office of Undersecretary for Migration Affairs (OUMA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy’s partner agencies. END

 

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  1. Consular Outreach in Bari 04-05 May 2024
  2. PHILIPPINES CELEBRATES 10TH YEAR OF PARTICIPATION IN VENICE BIENNALE
  3. The Philippines to open “Kabilang-tabing ng panahong ito / Waiting just behind the curtain of this age,” at the 60th Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition, 18 April 2024
  4. Consular Outreach in Albania, 13 - 14 April 2024