OWWA Administrator Arnaldo “Arnel” Ignacio (left-most) addresses the Filipinos who participated in the Kamustahan in Barcelona on 12 June 2023 at the Consulate General Hall. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
BARCELONA CITY, 13 June 2023 – On the occasion of the Philippine Independence Day and Migrant Workers’ Day celebration, the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona hosted Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe J. Lhuillier and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnaldo “Arnel” Ignacio to a “Kamustahan” or meet and greet with the Filipinos in Barcelona on 12 June 2023 at the Consulate General Hall.
Around 50 Filipinos, composed of OWWA members and non-members, and mostly community leaders, attended the meet and greet in Barcelona – a historic first both for Ambassador Lhuillier (in-person) and Administrator Ignacio since the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona reopened in 2020.
“Ang mandato ng OWWA ay pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga OFWs. Sa pakikipagtulungan natin sa mga Embahada at Konsulado ng Pilipinas sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, tayo ay magbibigay ng mga serbisyong hahalili sa pag-unlad ng ating OFWs, maging ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay sa Pilipinas”, said Administrator Ignacio in highlighting OWWA’s role in fulfilling President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s marching orders to ensure OFWs’ safety, welfare, and well-being.
Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro encouraged Filipinos in Barcelona to avail of the various consular outreaches of the Consulate General, which usually involve partner agencies like OWWA, MWO, PAGIBIG, local agencies in host country, etc. “To know when our next drives with our partner agencies will be, information is available on our website and social media accounts. Let’s optimize these opportunities to know our privileges or bring forward our concerns”, said Consul General Lazaro.
OWWA Administrator Ignacio, coming on the heels of another meet and greet with Filipinos in Dubai, recognized that welfare needs of Filipinos in Europe are different to that of Filipinos in the Middle-East region. He said, “Filipinos in Europe are in much better working condition than the Filipinos in the Middle-East, but the seemingly different interests of Filipinos in Europe are equally important for OWWA”.
Other than the insurance component of OWWA membership benefits, participants of the Kumustahan expressed strong interest in OWWA's repatriation program, including shipment of remains, on-site reintegration preparedness programs, and scholarship and training grants. Administrator Ignacio said that OWWA shall endeavour to make its membership benefits more attractive by beefing up loan programs and scholarships, among others.
Ambassador Lhuillier, on the other hand, expressed his appreciation to the “bayanihan” spirit of the Filipino community in Barcelona for the successful 125th Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Port of Barcelona on 11 June 2023. He then briefed the audience on the efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Madrid and the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona, in cooperation with various agencies including OWWA and MWO, in furthering the promotion of Filipinos’ interests in Spain. END
(To know about the programs and services of the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona, please visit and follow the Consulate General’s website: https://barcelonapcg.dfa.gov.ph , as well as Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PHinBarcelona/ ).
Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe J. Lhuillier (behind podium) expresses utmost appreciation to the Filipino Community in Barcelona for going above and beyond in partnering with the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona’s hosting of the 125h anniversary celebration of the Philippine Independence. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
Around 50 overseas Filipinos, OWWA members and non-members, attend the Kamustahan in Barcelona on 12 June 2023 at the Consulate General Hall. A number of the participants are Filipino community leaders in Barcelona. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)