In the ‘new normal’, the Philippine Consulate General in Geneva ensures to observe social distancing and safety protocols while providing various consular services for the Filipinos in Geneva and Vaud during its first Open House held on 16 May 2021. (Photos courtesy of Ambassador Evan Garcia and Ms. Marean Abarra)

18 May 2021, Geneva – The Consulate General welcomed a hundred registered visitors to the newly opened chancery on a rainy Sunday to avail themselves of passport, consular and other services, including SSS, Pag-ibig, and POLO-OWWA services, dubbed as "PCG Ko, Bukas ng Linggo" the first Open House in 2021.

Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, assisted by Consul General Felipe Cariño III along with officers and staff of the Mission/ Consulate, Labor Attaché Chery Daytec of POLO-OWWA office, and DTI Representative Magnolia Ashley, were on hand to receive Filipino kababayans to the newly-commissioned Philippine chancery at Allee David-Morse, Geneva.

Following health and safety protocols, the Consulate organized the event with the idea of optimizing the available space and resources, and online technology. The Mabini Hall of the chancery hosted passport and consular applicants who were pre-registered with online appointments and who observed social distancing while inside the premises. Many were given alcohol and masks at the reception area where they were made to fill out health forms after a temperature health check.

Apart from consular services, many Filipinos secured virtual consultations with Pag-Ibig and SSS representatives based in the Philippines and Milan. The Consulate General was also close to achieving targets for the Overseas Voting Registration which will end on September 30. The Philippine Independence Day committee led by Mr. Morse Flores of Uganayan Bayan, a federation of Filcom organizations in Switzerland, conducted promotional activities for the June 2021 PID celebrations. DTI’s Ms. Magnolia Ashley promoted national products/ services, an online cooking contest for PID celebrations entitled #LeckerPhilippines which promoted Philippine cuisine and cooking, and small business entrepreneurship among younger-generation Filipinos/ Fil-Swiss.  

The Consulate hopes to conduct similar Open Houses throughout the year to encourage and unify the Filipino community as Switzerland gradually reopens into the new normal when restrictions are slowly lifted, and to achieve targets for voting registration period for the 2022 National Elections.

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