Essen. 4 October 2012. A team from the Philippine Embassy in Berlin led by Minister Mardomel Celo D. Melicor successfully conducted overseas absentee voter (OAV) registration for the 2013 national elections and provided mobile consular services to the Filipino community in Essen and other areas in North Rhine Westphalia and Hesse on Saturday, 22 September 2012.
The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Essen (PHC Essen) headed by Consul Heinz-Peter Heidrich provided invaluable support for this activity which took place in the spacious Conference Hall at the 14th Floor of the Bank im Bistum Essen (BIBE) building.
Consul Heidrich welcomes Minister Melicor and the outreach team to the Bank im Bistum Essen.
Consul Heidrich, who is the CEO of the BIBE, was at hand to welcome the team and see to the smooth operation of the outreach. Aside from providing the venue, PHC Essen provided the team with drinks, refreshments and meals so that they could work without interruption from 8 am to 4 pm. In behalf of the team, Minister Melicor thanked Consul Heidrich for his generous support.
Ms. Milagros Wandelt, Consular Assistant of PHC Essen, with the help of her daughter Maria, managed the queueing of the applicants and ensured order during the activity. Filipino community leader Mr. Ver Cuizon covered the event for ABS-CBN TV Balitang Europe.
The Mobile Outreach Team poses for a photo in front of Bank im Bistum Essen which houses the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Essen. From left: Ms. Maria Wandelt,; Mr. Armand Mahinay; Mr. Joel Pangilinan; Mr. Mario Simbulan; Ms. Melinda Hernais; Ms. Lianna Judith Sale; Minister Mardomel Melicor; Ms. Milagros Wandelt; Ms. Flordeliza delos Santos; and Ms. Rosemarie Ramos.
Other members of the Embassy’s mobile team to Essen included Ms. Flordeliza Delos Santos, Ms. Lianna Judith Sale, Ms. Rosemarie Ramos, and Mr. Armando Mahinay. The remaining staff of the former Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Ms Melinda Hernais, Mr. Mario Simbulan and Mr. Joel Pangilinan, travelled to Essen to assist in processing the applicants and preparing them for the data capture phase
With the assistance and support it experienced, the mobile team was able to serve all applicants by 3:30 pm, and depart Essen promptly for Berlin as scheduled. Berlin is about 6 hours away from Essen by car.
The mobile team was able to register 65 overseas absentee voters, process 78 e-passport applications and provide 11 other consular services. END
