MISS CZECH REPUBLIC 2013 SEMI-FINALISTS TO
VISIT
THE PHILIPPINES IN JANUARY 2013
06 November – A kick-off Press Conference for the Miss Czech Republic 2013 was held on 6 November 2012 at Le Patio Restaurant at Narodni Trida, Prague 2. The Philippine Ambassador Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia was invited to grace the Press Conference as the Philippines will be host to the Miss Czech Republic semi-finalists who will be visiting the country in January next year.
In her remarks, Ambassador Garcia expressed pleasure at Philippine hosting of Miss Czech Republic semi finalists during an auspicious year when the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-Czech Diplomatic Relations will be celebrated. She said that the visit will provide the finalists of the Ms. Czech Republic the opportunity to discover not only the natural wonders of the country but also the wealth of history and culture that have made the Philippines captivating. They will discover as well the warmth, the smile and the friendliness that have contributed to the uniqueness of the Filipino people.
The Press Conference was attended by previous Miss Czech winners, journalists, fashion editors and Czech “fashionistas”.Ambassador Garcia was joined by Embassy’s Cultural Officer Ramon A. Gaspar and Finance Officer Lourdes F. Morallos.
The Miss Czech Republic 2013 semi-finalists are scheduled to visit Manila, the Palawan Underground River and Subic in the last week of January 2013. They will be accompanied by Czech media who will cover Philippine tourist spots. The visit is organized by the Czech Miss, ESO Travel Agency, PRIMA TV in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy, the Philippine Department of Tourism and Dr. Mina Gabor, President of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP). END
Prague PE Holds First Migrants Orientation Seminar
12 August 2012 - The Philippine Embassy Prague successfully gathered together key resource speakers from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO),
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Pag-ibig, Social Security System (SSS), Migraci and 52 Filipino participants at the Philippine Chancery to discuss the programs and services available to the Filipino migrants as well as labor concerns and migration issues in the Czech Republic.
Labor Attache Anabella M. Oliveros (Milan) informed the audience of the legal process of hiring to keep them within the bounds of the law for their continuous, uninterrupted and hassle-free employment throughout the term of their employment contract. Labatt Oliveros also encouraged the audience to consult the Philippine Embassy for any concerns regarding their employment. The Embassy may also forward further queries to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for closer coordination, she said.
Welfare Officer Lilia F. de Guzman focused on the functions of OWWA and the services and benefits it provides. POLO and OWWA work hand in hand in giving assistance to the workers in cases which are inherently labor in nature or arising out of employer-employee relationship. OWWA also extends health and death benefits; assistance in repatriation, whereabouts and reintegration programs and trainings; and scholarship grants for deserving children of current OFWs, former OFWs and deceased OFWs.
12 August 2012 - The Philippine Embassy Prague successfully gathered together key resource speakers from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Pag-ibig, Social Security System (SSS), Migraci and 52 Filipino participants at the Philippine Chancery to discuss the programs and services available to the Filipino migrants as well as labor concerns and migration issues in the Czech Republic.
Labor Attache Anabella M. Oliveros (Milan) informed the audience of the legal process of hiring to keep them within the bounds of the law for their continuous, uninterrupted and hassle-free employment throughout the term of their employment contract. Labatt Oliveros also encouraged the audience to consult the Philippine Embassy for any concerns regarding their employment. The Embassy may also forward further queries to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for closer coordination, she said.
Welfare Officer Lilia F. de Guzman focused on the functions of OWWA and the services and benefits it provides. POLO and OWWA work hand in hand in giving assistance to the workers in cases which are inherently labor in nature or arising out of employer-employee relationship. OWWA also extends health and death benefits; assistance in repatriation, whereabouts and reintegration programs and trainings; and scholarship grants for deserving children of current OFWs, former OFWs and deceased OFWs.
Ms. Magda Faltova who represented Migrace, a non-government organization that provides support to foreigners in the Czech Republic, enlightened the audience on the Migration Laws and other intricacies of the Labor Law that are applicable to them.
Ms. Thelma Venturanza presented the programs available to the Filipino Migrants under SSS such as health, maternity, retirement, disability and funeral benefits as well as salary and housing loans, while Atty. Labo informed the Filipinos about the Pag-ibig programs. The latter emphasized the importance of saving and preparing for the future. Among the benefits available to Pag-ibig members are savings with dividends, short term loans and housing loan programs.
To maximize the services for the Filipinos that day, the Philippine Embassy also opened its Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Registration which benefitted especially those who live outside of Prague.
The Migrants Seminar is the first-ever held for the OFWs in the Czech Republic since the Philippine Embassy was opened in 1997.
