2 December 2010, Tel Aviv, State of Israel – Col. Sanny Gadot and some of his staff officers visited the Philippine Embassy to pay a courtesy call on Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia and other Embassy Officials.

Col. Gadot is the new Commanding Officer of the 3rd Philippine contingent deployed in the Golan Heights under the aegis of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).  Col. Gadot assumed command of the Philippine Battalion on 12 November 2010.

During the call, Ambassador Garcia provided a briefing on the state of relations between the Philippines and Israel, particularly in the Political, Economic, Trade and Cultural areas.  She reiterated that the deployment of the Philippine contingent in the Golan Heights bolsters the image of the Philippine government in the international fora.  “Our presence in the Golan Heights signifies that the Philippines is fulfilling its obligations as member of the United Nations, and that the Philippines is fully committed in the preservation of peace and stability in the region”, the Ambassador said during the call.

The Ambassador also appealed to the contingent to support the Philippine Embassy’s plans and programmes for the coming year, particularly in the promotion of Philippine culture.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Welfare Office (OWWA), for their part, also provided an overview of the labor laws and current conditions of Overseas Filipino Workers.  The Embassy also gave them the extent of the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) services to Filipino workers and how the Embassy work hand-in-hand with POLO and OWWA under the one country team approach.

The Philippine contingent, for its part, acknowledged the importance of their role in the Golan Heights and the image it reflects on the Philippines as a country.  They are also mindful about the cultural orientation of countries having interests in the region.  The contingent also conveyed their readiness to cooperate with the Embassy for the next six months.

Among those present during the call were Vice Consuls and Third Secretaries Mr. Bertrand Theodor L. Santos, Mrs. Greg Marie Mariño, Mr. Ferdinand Flores, Labor Attaché Merriam Cuasay, Welfare Officer Petrona Bergado, ATN Officer Florencio Franco, and Cultural Attaché Fatima Diema Tabio.

The Philippines began sending Filipino troops to UNDOF stationed at the Golan Heights in 2009 when the country took the reins from Poland.  Shortly thereafter, Maj. Gen. Natalio Ecarma III, a Filipino, was appointed Force Commander of UNDOF.

Col. Gadot is the new Commanding Officer of the 3rd Philippine contingent deployed in the Golan Heights under the aegis of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).  Col. Gadot assumed command of the Philippine Battalion on 12 November 2010.

During the call, Ambassador Garcia provided a briefing on the state of relations between the Philippines and Israel, particularly in the Political, Economic, Trade and Cultural areas.  She reiterated that the deployment of the Philippine contingent in the Golan Heights bolsters the image of the Philippine government in the international fora.  “Our presence in the Golan Heights signifies that the Philippines is fulfilling its obligations as member of the United Nations, and that the Philippines is fully committed in the preservation of peace and stability in the region”, the Ambassador said during the call.

The Ambassador also appealed to the contingent to support the Philippine Embassy’s plans and programmes for the coming year, particularly in the promotion of Philippine culture.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Welfare Office (OWWA), for their part, also provided an overview of the labor laws and current conditions of Overseas Filipino Workers.  The Embassy also gave them the extent of the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) services to Filipino workers and how the Embassy work hand-in-hand with POLO and OWWA under the one country team approach.

The Philippine contingent, for its part, acknowledged the importance of their role in the Golan Heights and the image it reflects on the Philippines as a country.  They are also mindful about the cultural orientation of countries having interests in the region.  The contingent also conveyed their readiness to cooperate with the Embassy for the next six months.

Among those present during the call were Vice Consuls and Third Secretaries Mr. Bertrand Theodor L. Santos, Mrs. Greg Marie Mariño, Mr. Ferdinand Flores, Labor Attaché Merriam Cuasay, Welfare Officer Petrona Bergado, ATN Officer Florencio Franco, and Cultural Attaché Fatima Diema Tabio.

The Philippines began sending Filipino troops to UNDOF stationed at the Golan Heights in 2009 when the country took the reins from Poland.  Shortly thereafter, Maj. Gen. Natalio Ecarma III, a Filipino, was appointed Force Commander of UNDOF.