Philippine Embassy Athens

14/10/2026

Ambassador Palec Attends Opening of 2026 OWWA Cup in Cyprus

Philippine Ambassador to Cyprus H.E. Giovanni E. Palec attended the opening ceremonies and preliminary games of the 2026 OWWA Cup Basketball and Volleyball Tournament for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Cyprus held on 11 October 2026 at the Sotiriou Sports Center in Nicosia.

The tournament in Cyprus is part of a series of sports activities organized by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) through its Onsite Welfare Office (OWO) in Greece headed by Officer-in-Charge Mr. Richie James G. Uy. The event aims to promote sports, health and well-being and to foster sportsmanship, unity and camaraderie among the Filipino Community within OWO Greece’s jurisdiction, including Cyprus.

Ambassador Palec joined Labor Attache Atty. Rodolfo G. Gabasan, OWO Greece OIC Uy and the players during the ceremonial ball toss.

During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Palec expressed his appreciation to OWWA for organizing and sponsoring the tournament and for providing assistance and services that ensure the welfare of Filipino workers in Cyprus. He encouraged the Filipino Community in Cyprus to support and engage in these activities that promote health and well-being and good relations in the community.

The tournament had two categories: Men’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball. – END –

Photo credits: Onsite Welfare Office (OWO) in Greece

12/10/2026

12/10/2026

12/10/2026

Ambassador Palec Discusses Philippine Art Promotion in Greece with Amangpintor

Philippine Ambassador to Greece H.E. Giovanni E. Palec warmly received internationally recognized Filipino painter Mr. Elito V. Circa better known as “Amangpintor” on 05 October 2026 at the Embassy.

Ambassador Palec and Amangpintor discussed the possibility of a collaboration to further promote Philippine arts and culture, articularly painting and his indigenous style in creating his works.

Amangpintor is a multi-awarded artist and considered the father of “Indigenouism Art” promoting the use of indigenous materials as paint medium and advocating for environmental protection. He is internationally known as “Blood and Hair” folk artist and has popularized hand-painting performances in the Philippines and abroad. –END–

09/10/2026

Ambassador Palec and OWWA Administrator Caunan Discuss Welfare and Programs for OFWs in Greece and Cyprus

Philippine Ambassador to Greece H.E. Giovanni E. Palec met with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administration Atty. Patricia Yvonne Caunan on 05 October 2026 as the latter, along with other OWWA officials joined the Monday flag-raising ceremony at the Philippine Embassy.

During the meeting, Ambassador Palec and Hon. Caunan discussed the conditions of the Filipino workers in Greece, as well as current and possible initiatives that would further ensure their welfare in line with OWWA’s welfare programs for Overseas Filipino Workers including those in Cyprus.

Hon. Caunan was joined in the meeting by Labor Attache Atty. Rodolfo G. Gabasan, Ms. Rosalia Susana S. Bahia-Catapang, OWWA Deputy Administrator for Operations and former Welfare Officer in Greece, Ms. Mona Lisa R. Samson, Officer-in-Charge of OWWA Regional Operations Coordination Service, Ms. Marivic L. Mondia, Director of Regional Welfare Office - I and former Welfare Officer in Greece, Mr. Richie James G. Uy, Officer-in-Charge of the Onsite Welfare Office (OWO) in Greece, Mr. Joseph John Q. Padilla, Chief of OWWA Management and Information System Division and the rest of the OWWA delegation.

Hon. Caunan travelled to Greece to lead the “Alagang OWWA Health, Wellness and Membership Serbisyo Caravan” held on 04 October 2026 at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens. The one-stop-shop caravan brought the services of OWWA, SSS, Pag-IBIG, DSWD and PAO to the Filipino Community in Greece. The “Serbisyo Caravan” delivered a total of 1,908 services, including the issuance of 1,096 OWWA e-Cards and 591 services provided by the other agencies.

An “Alagang OWWA Health, Wellness and Membership Serbisyo Caravan” is also scheduled to be held in Larnaca, Cyprus for OFWs in the Republic of Cyprus. –END–

09/10/2026

OWWA Administrator Caunan and Delegation Join Athens PE Flag Raising

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Atty. Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan and her delegation joined the Philippine Embassy's Monday flag-raising ceremony on 05 October 2026. She was accompanied by Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Labor Attache Atty. Rodolfo G. Gabasan, Ms. Rosalia Susana S. Bahia-Catapang, OWWA Deputy Administrator for Operations and former Welfare Officer in Greece, Ms. Mona Lisa R. Samson, Officer-in-Charge of OWWA Regional Operations Coordination Service, Ms. Marivic L. Mondia, Director of Regional Welfare Office - I and former Welfare Officer in Greece, Mr. Richie James G. Uy, Officer-in-Charge of the Onsite Welfare Office (OWO) in Greece, Mr. Joseph John Q. Padilla, Chief of OWWA Management and Information System Division and the rest of the OWWA delegation.

Philippine Ambassador to Greece H.E. Giovanni E. Palec led the Philippine Embassy personnel in warmly welcoming OWWA Administrator Caunan and other OWWA officials on 05 October 2026. In her remarks, Hon. Caunan expressed her appreciation to Ambassador Palec and the Philippine Embassy for providing full support and assistance to the “Serbisyo Caravan” and to the delegation from OWWA and other agencies.

Ambassador Palec congratulated Hon. Caunan for the successful “Alagang OWWA Health, Wellness and Membership Serbisyo Caravan" held on 04 October 2026 at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens. He said that the one-stop-shop serbisyo caravan which brought the services of OWWA, SSS, Pag-IBIG, DSWD and PAO meant a lot to the thousands of hardworking Filipinos in Greece in need of the essential services of these agencies.

The “Alagang OWWA Health, Wellness and Membership Serbisyo Caravan” delivered a total of 1,908 services, including the issuance of 1,096 OWWA e-Cards and 591 services provided by the other agencies. –END–

09/10/2026

Philippine Embassy Joins 2026 OWWA Cup Bowling Tournament in Greece

The Philippine Embassy personnel and their dependents led by H.E. Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec and Mrs. Novelyn A. Palec, joined in the 2026 OWWA Cup Bowling Tournament for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Greece held on 27 September 2026 at the Cosmos Bowling Center in Athens.

The sports event was organized by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) through its Onsite Welfare Office (OWO) in Greece to raise awareness on the importance of sports, health and well-being and to foster sportsmanship, unity and camaraderie among the Filipino Community in Greece.

The OWWA delegation was led by Ms. Rosalia Susana S. Bahia-Catapang, OWWA Deputy Administrator for Operations and former Welfare Officer in Greece, along with Ms. Mona Lisa R. Samson, Officer-in-Charge of OWWA Regional Operations Coordination Service and Mr. Richie James G. Uy, Officer-in-Charge of OWO in Greece.

During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Palec warmly welcomed the OWWA delegation from the Philippines and expressed his appreciation to OWWA for organizing and sponsoring the tournament and for providing assistance and services that ensure the welfare of Filipino workers in Greece.

The tournament had two categories: Filipino Community Category which the Embassy participated in with two teams and the Bowlers Category for expert players. – END –

09/10/2026

PH Ambassador Receives Filipino AI Innovator on Sign Language

Philippine Ambassador to Greece H.E. Giovanni E. Palec warmly received Mr. Theodore Ramon Arturo G. Esguerra on 25 September 2026 following the latter’s participation in the 6th International Conference on Novel and Intelligent Digital Systems (NiDS 2026) hosted by the University of West Attika in Greece on 23 - 25 September 2026.

Mr. Esguerra who graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman - College of Engineering with a degree on BS Computer Science developed an innovative technology which translates in real time captured sign languages through a video camera into Filipino text.

In recognition of his expertise and innovation, the University of West Attika invited Mr. Esguerra to present his research entitled “Real-Time Camera-Based Filipino Sign Language Gesture Recognition Using MediaPipe with Dataset Creation” during the NiDS 2026. His research will be included in the conference proceedings to be published in the Springer’s Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (LNNS) series.

Ambassador Palec congratulated Mr. Esguerra for his achievement which brings into the international stage the innovative and creative mind of the Filipinos. The Ambassador encouraged him to further develop his research and serve as an inspiration to Filipinos, especially among younger generations, to pursue fields in science and technology, Artificial Intelligence and other fields in scientific and technological innovation. –END–

09/10/2026

Museums and Galleries Month (MGM)

The Philippine Embassy in Athens joins the nation in celebrating Museums and Galleries Month (MGM) this October, honoring the vital role of museums and galleries in preserving, promoting, and celebrating the country's rich cultural heritage and history.

Observed annually in October pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 798, s. 1991, Museums and Galleries Month underscores the importance of making the Philippines' cultural expressions, artistic traditions, and historical heritage accessible to all. By fostering a deeper appreciation of the nation's history and identity, museums and galleries contribute to nation-building and help shape the country's collective future.

This year's theme, "Bridging Divides, Preserving the Present for Tomorrow," highlights museums and galleries as vibrant spaces for cultural exchange, dialogue, and shared understanding. Beyond safeguarding artifacts and artworks, these institutions bring heritage to life by sharing the stories, experiences, and perspectives of people across generations and diverse backgrounds. In doing so, they bridge cultural divides, strengthen connections, and ensure that the richness of the Filipino heritage continues to inspire future generations.

2026

09/10/2026

Philippine Embassy Facilitates Creative Exchange Between PH Fashion Studio and Greek Craft Workshop

ATHENS, 02 October 2026 — The Philippine Embassy in Athens organized a visit by Philippine fashion and design collective Dahum Studio to the Benaki Museum’s Mentis–Antonopoulos (“NEMA”) workshop to explore traditional Greek passementerie and opportunities for future collaboration. The visit forms part of the Embassy’s efforts to promote Philippine creative industries internationally.

Virginia Matseli, ethnologist and Head of NEMA, welcomed Dahum Studio Chief of Operations Elaine Marders and Chief Designer Windell Madis and introduced them to passementerie, the craft of producing decorative trimmings such as cords, braids, fringes, tassels and ribbons.

Marders and Madis expressed interest in adapting NEMA’s decorative elements for contemporary Filipino fashion. The exchange highlighted opportunities to combine traditional Greek craftsmanship with Filipino creativity and explore potential collaboration between Dahum Studio and NEMA.

The visit is among the engagements facilitated by the Embassy to connect Filipino designers with Greek artisans and creative organizations, promote the exchange of expertise, and expand international opportunities for Philippine fashion and design.