Filipinos thrive in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain – The second largest city of Spain and the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia, Barcelona is considered a major global city that offers a lot of options for investment and trade. The city came to global prominence when it hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics, showcasing its many tourist attractions such as museums, beaches, historical monuments including several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Aside from its pleasant climate, the well-developed infrastructures make Barcelona one of the most attractive and most visited cities in Europe and the world.

The region of Catalonia is home to an estimated 25,000 overseas Filipino workers, and as a matter of fact, we came across a Filipino server in Ciudad Condal, one of the most popular – and perhaps the best – tapas bars in Barcelona located at the Rambla de Catalunya. Emilio “Butch” Majistrado (in photo) has been working in Barcelona for 17 years, and he tells me that about 80 percent of the staff – from the chef to the servers and front desk manager – are all Filipino, with many of them averaging 10 to 20 years as workers.

Open at around 8 p.m. until 2 a.m., it’s really difficult to find seats inside Ciudad Condal because it is always filled up, with just enough elbow-room for people who really go out of their way to eat at this very popular restaurant that offers a wide choice of beers, wines and all kinds of tapas.

When the DFA decided to shut down the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona last year as part of its rationalization plan, OFWs vehemently voiced their opposition, asking the government to reconsider its decision since the presence of the career consulate general in Barcelona made it more convenient (and less expensive) for Filipinos – in particular seafarers – who did not have to travel all the way to Madrid whenever they needed consular assistance.

This is precisely the reason why our Philippine Ambassador to Spain Charlie Salinas recommended the appointment of an honorary Consul General to Catalonia – wealthy Barcelonian Jordi Puig Roches who is married to Filipina Vicky Duran from Sorsogon. Ambassador Salinas formally inaugurated in February the office of the new Philippine Honorary Consul located along Plaza Real (shown in photo).

ConGen Puig is a prominent Catalan businessman in the hotel and restaurant industry.  He’s actually the owner of the popular Les Quinze Nits restaurant famous for its paella and Mediterranean cuisine. ConGen Puig, who has vowed to promote Philippine trade and tourism, also tells us he has established a hotel and several restaurants in Manila and Sorsogon, with plans to expand his operations in the future. The office of the honorary consul in Barcelona has under his jurisdiction the most number of Filipinos compared to other honorary consuls in Spain.

DFARFI golf invitational

Members of the DFA Retirees Foundation Inc. (DFARFI) led by its president Ambassador Lauro Baja (in photo second from left with Ambassador Victor Garcia, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario and Ambassador Antonio Villamor) will be holding the Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario Cup Invitational Golf Tournament at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club on October 22. A non-profit, non-stock organization, DFARFI is composed of retired ambassadors and DFA personnel. The Golf Invitational hopes to raise funds for the foundation’s various health projects and programs including medical insurance coverage for its members.

Spy tidbit

Fourteen football teams celebrated the second Bayanijuan Football Festival in the newly-launched Grandstand and Athletic Field at Bayanijuan in Calauan, Laguna. Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez donated P5 million to construct the facility which serves as the venue for sports and other recreational activities for the youth in Bayanijuan. The project aims to strengthen the health of residents through physical exercise, recreation and inculcating values in sports. It also aims to develop athletes from the community as well as the whole province of Laguna.

***

Email: [email protected].