MESSAGE OF H.E. LEAH M. BASINANG-RUIZ AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND, TO THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA, TO THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA, TO THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA, AND TO UKRAINE ON THE OCCASION OF 123rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENCE
MY DEAR FELLOW FILIPINOS,
MGA MAHAL KONG KABABAYAN DITO SA POLAND AT MAGING SA ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA AND UKRAINE:
ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICERS AND STAFF OF THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN WARSAW, I AM VERY HAPPY TO EXTEND TO YOU OUR WARMEST GREETINGS AS WE CELEBRATE THE 123RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE.
TODAY, THE 12TH OF JUNE 2021, WE RECALL THE COURAGE AND SACRIFICES OF OUR HEROES WHO OVERTHREW THE YOKE OF FOREIGN DOMINATION AND OPPRESSION MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, SO THAT TODAY WE ARE A FREE, INDEPENDENT AND SOVEREIGN NATION.
TODAY, WE ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT ALL FILIPINOS HAVE THE PATRIOTIC DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR HARD-FOUGHT FREEDOM, OUR DEMOCRATIC WAY OF LIFE, OUR SOVEREIGNTY, AND OUR NATIONAL PATRIMONY.
THESE ARE THE VALUES AND IDEALS THAT SHOULD INSPIRE US WHEREVER WE ARE AS WE CONTINUE OUR STRUGGLES TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY AS A COUNTRY AND AS A PEOPLE, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THIS ON-GOING PANDEMIC.
MGA MAHAL KONG KABABAYAN:
DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES POSED BY THE PANDEMIC WHICH BEGAN IN MARCH LAST YEAR, THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN WARSAW IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE PROVIDING CONSULAR AND ASSISTANCE-TO-NATIONALS SERVICES TO FILIPINOS HERE IN POLAND, AS WELL AS IN ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA AND UKRAINE.
THE EMBASSY DID ITS BEST TO REMAIN OPEN ALL THROUGHOUT LAST YEAR, EXCEPT DURING THE PERIOD OF LOCKDOWN IN MARCH AND APRIL. EVEN THEN, THE EMBASSY EMERGENCY TELEPHONE, AS WELL AS EMAIL, WAS CONTINUOUSLY MANNED TO ENSURE THAT REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE CAN BE ATTENDED TO IN A SAFE AND EXPEDITIOUS MANNER.
TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PERSONNEL AND EMBASSY CLIENTS FROM INFECTION AND THE OBSERVANCE OF HEALTH PROTOCOLS AND REGULATIONS OF THE POLISH GOVERNMENT, THE EMBASSY DID ITS BEST TO MAINTAIN SAFETY MEASURES, INCLUDING THE OBSERVANCE OF AN APPOINTMENTS SYSTEM.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS AND IMPROVED HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE FUTURE, THE EMBASSY WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT A CONSULAR OUTREACH WHEN THE HEALTH SITUATION PERMITS. MAYBE WE CAN DO IT IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES HERE IN POLAND AND ALSO IN ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA OR UKRAINE.
WE ALSO INTEND TO CONTINUE ORGANIZING CONSULAR SUNDAYS HERE AT THE EMBASSY AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH SO THAT THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE ACCOMMODATED DURING THE WORK WEEK OR ARE AVAILABLE ONLY DURING THE WEEKENDS CAN BE ATTENDED TO DURING THAT DAY.
EFFECTIVE THE 1ST DAY OF JUNE THIS YEAR UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS LABOR OFFICE (POLO) IN BERLIN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LABOR MATTERS IN POLAND.
POLO BERLIN, WHICH HAS AN OWWA SECTION HEADED BY A WELFARE OFFICER, IS READY TO ASSIST OFWS WITH THEIR LABOR CONCERNS IN POLAND.
WE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO POLO GENEVA HEADED BY LABOR ATTACHE CHERYL DAYTEC, WHO HANDLED POLAND FROM SEPTEMBER 2019-MAY 2021 AND WARMLY WELCOME POLO BERLIN HEADED BY LABOR ATTACHE DELMER CRUZ.
AT THIS POINT, I URGE OUR OFWS TO RENEW YOUR OWWA MEMBERSHIP. PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT YOUR OWWA MEMBERSHIP IS GOOD FOR 2 YEARS ONLY OR EVEN SHORTER IF YOU CHANGE EMPLOYERS. RENEWALS WILL BE FACILITATED BY THE WELFARE OFFICE OF POLO BERLIN.
WE ALSO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO BANK WHICH CAN BE DONE WITHOUT THE NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE PHILIPPINES.
HAVING AN ACCOUNT AT THE OF BANK CAN FACILITATE PAYMENTS TO POEA AND OWWA AND OTHER PHILIPPINE INSTITUTIONS. THE OF BANK IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT SHARES INFRASTRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT WITH THE LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES.
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE IS THE PHILIPPINE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM OR PHILSYS, WHICH IS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA). AS OF 21 MAY 2021, MORE THAN 10 MILLION FILIPINOS HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THE SECOND PHASE OF REGISTRATION WHICH INVOLVES THE COLLECTION OF BIOMETRIC DATA.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE NUMBER OF REGISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UP AND WILL ALSO BE CONDUCTED FOR FILIPINOS OVERSEAS THROUGH THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES.
ONCE FULLY IMPLEMENTED, THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ID WILL BECOME A VALID PROOF OF IDENTITY THAT CAN BE USED TO TRANSACT BUSINESS WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR AND FACILITATE PARTICIPATION IN ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS IN THE FUTURE.
MGA MAHAL KONG KABABAYAN:
WE ALSO REMIND YOU OF THE ONGOING OVERSEAS VOTING REGISTRATION FOR THE MAY 2022 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS ON THE 30TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR 2021.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN YOUR PLACES OF RESIDENCE OR WORK IN MAY NEXT YEAR (WHETHER HERE IN POLAND, OR IN ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA OR UKRAINE), PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO SEND US AN EMAIL OR CONTACT THE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER IN ORDER TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO REGISTER HERE AT THE EMBASSY.
FINALLY, MY DEAR KABABAYANS, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OFFER OF YOUR HOST GOVERNMENT TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST THE COVID FOR FREE. ALL THOSE WHO CANNOT ENLIST ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE EMBASSY SO WE CAN FIND A WAY TO ASSIST YOU IN THIS MATTER.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS THREAT FOR GRANTED BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC IS NOT YET OVER. PLEASE REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS TO AVOID INFECTION: AVOID CROWDED PLACES, MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND ALWAYS WEAR A MASK WHEN INDOORS.
DEFER UNNECESSARY TRAVEL AND ALWAYS BE AWARE OF AND STRICTLY FOLLOW THE HEALTH PROTOCOLS AND REGULATIONS IMPOSED BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT. MOST OF ALL, PLEASE HAVE YOURSELVES VACCINATED.
MGA MAHAL KONG KABABAYAN,
IT IS OUR DEAREST WISH THAT, NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ONCE AGAIN CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY HERE AT THE EMBASSY OR IN ANOTHER PLACE OF GATHERING, WHETHER HERE IN POLAND, OR IN ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, OR UKRAINE.
MEANWHILE, WE THANK THE LORD ALMIGHTY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COMMEMORATE THIS MILESTONE EVENT IN OUR COUNTRY’S HISTORY.
LET US CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BETTER OUR COUNTRY, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR FAMILIES.
WE WISH YOU ALL A JOYFUL AND MEANINGFUL CELEBRATION OF OUR 123RD INDEPENDENCE DAY. MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS! MABUHAY ANG PILIPINO!
