Ambassador-designate, H.E. Maria Elena P. Algabre (standing center) meets with the Filipino community in Istanbul, Turkey for the first  time at the Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul Hotel on 17 August 2021. 

ISTANBUL 17 August 2021 — The Filipino community in Istanbul, the largest concentration of Filipinos residing and working in Turkey, warmly welcomed newly-arrived Philippine Ambassador-designate to Turkey, H.E. Maria Elena P. Algabre, on her first official visit to the nation’s financial and commercial center on 17 August 2021.  In a meeting hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul at the Hyatt Centric Levent Hotel, she addressed the various concerns and needs of Filipinos raised by the community leaders.  Given the public guidance for health safety, a total of 23 community leaders and members attended the meeting with social distancing protocols being observed.  

 Ambassador Algabre (standing) addresses the issues and concerns of attending community members and leaders during the question-and-answer panel of the town hall meeting. Looking on are: (l-r) Consul Edwin R. Mendoza, PCG Istanbul; Consul General Arvin R. De Leon; and Consul Lorena Joy P. Banagodos, PCG Istanbul

Ambassador-designate Algabre reiterated the commitment of Team Philippines in Turkey, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara and the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, to protect and uphold the rights and interests of all Filipino citizens residing in Turkey. Matters discussed included the delivery of efficient and effective consular services. She added that the establishment of the Consulate General in Istanbul will help yield more opportunities for closer ties between the Philippines and Turkey’s largest city, which is the country’s main commercial and cultural hub.       

Accompanying the Ambassador-designate at the meeting were the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul’s Consul General, Arvin R. De Leon, Consul Lorena Joy P. Banagodos and Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Marc Theodore P. Benigno of the Philippine Embassy in Ankara was also present at the meeting.