Hyvää ystävänpäivää!
Magandang Araw ng mga Puso!
Happy Valentine's!

Events and activities Embassy in Helsinki http://helsinkipe.fi/home/ In Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Philippine-Embassy-in-Helsinki/142852612443762 The Helsinki Embassy deals with all the consular affairs as visa or passport renewal and so on. No need to contact the Stockholm Embassy any longer. Embassy of the Philippines in Helsinki Address: Keskuskatu 1 B, 4th floor, FIN-00100 Helsinki Office hours: Mon - Fri 9 - 17, consular section 9 - 12, 13 - 15 Telephone nos: +358 (0)9 682 985 00; consular section +358 (0)9 682 985 20 and +358 (0)9 682 985 21 Fax. +358 (0)9 682 985 18 Email address: admin@helsinkipe.org Ambassador: Ma. Angelina Sta Catalina Data being collected on Filipinos in Finland The Embassy is collecting data on all the Filipinos living in Finland. On the Embassy's website http://helsinkipe.fi/home/ there is an online link for your registration. Or, please, download a form here and send your registration asap. Philippine ePassports The Philippine Embassy in Helsinki processes applications for Philippine ePassports. The ePassport will cost 60,00 Euros. Since all biometric data are captured electronically at the Embassy, applicants will have to make a personal appearance for their application. But applicants are no longer required to submit passport photos. All other requirements remain the same. The ePassport is a passport which features microchip technology. An integrated circuit (IC) chip within its pages contains the data that are essential in verifying the identity of the passport holder. These data include the biometrics of the passport holder, the unique chip identification number and a digital signature to verify the authenticity of the data stored on the chip. The new ePassport greatly increases the confidence of international immigration authorities in the authenticity and integrity of the passport holder's identity, allowing for more convenient processing at international ports of entry while helping prevent identity theft and tampering of personal data. Absentee Voting in 2013 Elections - Registrations until October 2012 All citizens of the Philippines abroad, not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election, and who are registered overseas absentee voters with approved application to vote in absentia, may vote for Senators and Party-List Representatives. The filing of applications for registration/certification and transfer of registration records shall be filed at the Philippine Embassy in Helsinki or other designated registration areas from 2 November 2011 to 31 October 2012. The 30-day voting period will commence on 13 April 2013 until 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon (Philippine time) of 13 May 2013 at the Philippine Embassy in Helsinki and other designated voting areas. Finland is going to close the Embassy in Manila Finland is planning to close its embassies in different countries of the world. One of the them is the embassy in Makati. It will be closed in the end of year 2012. This may mean that in future the Filipinos willing to come to Finland must apply for visas and permits in the embassies of other EU states. No further information on that has not been revealed yet. Read more about this on page http://www.finland.ph/Public/default.aspx?contentid=202628&nodeid=37916&contentlan=2&culture=en-US. Filipino foods sold in Espoo An Asian grocery in Leppävaara, Espoo, close to Galleria. Asian Deli, address Läkkisepänkuja 3 Open weekdays 9.00-21.00, Saturdays 9.00-18.00, and Sundays 12.00-18.00. Website http://www.asiandeli.fi/ Telephone 09 4289 0448. Read more about Asian Deli http://www.asiandeli.fi/. Many other Asian food stores also sell Filipino foods in differents parts of Finland. Read more about Asian food stores in Finland. Finnish lessons in Spring 2012 - Sabihin Mo Ito Sa Finnish! Next basic courses in Finnish will start on September, 2012. Lesson books are available anytime also for those who don't attend the classes. Read more: Ilmoittaudu kurssille! Lisää tietoa seuran kielikursseista. Read more about the Finnish lessons in English. Magbasa ka ng impormasyon ng klaseng Finnish sa Filipino. Information: Riitta Vartti, riitta.vartti@kolumbus.fi, tel. 040-8454 794. Organizer: Filippiinit-seura ry. Finnish - Filipino / Tagalog dictionary A new, medium-size Finnish - Filipino / Tagalog - Finnish dictionary was published in March 2010. The book includes about 30 000 entries and a short grammar of both languages. Price 30 Euros, available also at Akateeminen kirjakauppa. Order your book from Riitta Vartti, riitta.vartti@kolumbus.fi. Just give your name, address and telephone number. Sports Activities for Filipinos on Sundays Place: Kisahalli in Töölö, address Paavo Nurmen kuja 1 C, 00250 Helsinki, Ongoing basketball games every Sunday at 13 - 17 Ongoing volleyball games every Sunday at 14 - 17 Registration: call or write to Celine Railonkoski, gsm 040 5235737, celendoon@hotmail.com Organizer: Philippine Sports Association Fitness Activity, sauvakävely or Nordic Walking, on Sundays at around 13, starting on May 3, contact Baby Jäntti, 041 440 7109, a_jantti@hotmail.com.