Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr. presents a certificate of appreciation to Ms. Nida Sanal for assisting the Philippine Embassy in organizing a consular outreach mission in Iskenderun, Hatay. (Embassy Photo)

09 October 2023, Ankara, Türkiye – The Philippine Embassy team led by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr. visited Iskenderun and Antakya, both municipalities in Hatay that were severely affected by the massive earthquake that struck Türkiye last February, on 07 October 2023.

The team rendered mostly dual citizenship and civil registration services for Filipino community members in Iskenderun. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Dayang Jr. also had a dialogue with the community headed by Ms. Nida Sanal, to inquire about their current situation nine months after the devastating 7.7  earthquake in Türkiye. Some of the Filipinos in Iskenderun were sheltered in Ankara and those who were repatriated to the Philippines eventually returned to Türkiye.

After Iskenderun, the PH Embassy team proceeded to Antakya, Hatay, to render consular and overseas voting registration services and conduct a welfare check on the Filipino community affected by the earthquake. 

 Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr. and Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Officer Ms. Helena Tan, listen to the stories of Filipino community members in Hatay on their experiences during the earthquake. (Embassy Photo)

 The Embassy team conducts passport and overseas voter registration services in Antakya, Hatay. (Embassy photo)

In his meeting with the Filipino community of Hatay, Chargé d’Affaires Dayang, joined by ATN Officer Helena Tan, listened to the stories of Filipinos as they recalled what happened during the earthquake. He assured that the Philippine Embassy would continue to assist the Filipinos in Hatay in rebuilding their lives.

Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Juan E. Dayang Jr. presents a certificate of appreciation to Ms. Daisy Gulesci, Vice President of the Filipino Community in Hatay, for hosting the Philippine Embassy and the Filipinos in Hatay for the consular outreach mission in Antakya, Hatay. (Embassy Photo)

At the end of the visits, Chargé d’Affaires Dayang presented certificates of appreciation to Ms. Nida Sanal of Iskenderun, Ms. Corazon Kudret and Ms. Daisy Gulesci, newly-elected President and Vice President, respectively, of the Filipino Community in Hatay, for their assistance in the Embassy’s consular outreach and welfare mission in Hatay. END