Greece–Philippines relations

The Greek city of Thessaloniki are open to enhancing business ties with the Philippines. Thessaloniki located in northern Greece, is the country's second major economic, industrial, commercial and political center, and a major transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe.[1]

According to official Greek statistics, there were 5,000 Filipinos in Greece in 1991, which declined to 2,000 by 1996. In reality, there were many more working in the country illegally.[2][3] The Philippine community have set up a school for their children in downtown Athens.[4]

A large proportion are women (81% in 1999), who generally find employment as domestic workers.[5]

In 2009 there were 30,000 Filipinos in Greece.[6]

According to some historical accounts, there were already Greek settlers in the country as early as the 18th century. Most were sailors, traders, and fishermen.[2]

During the early 20th century, a number of Greek sailors and immigrants came to the country and settled. One group came to the city of Legazpi.[3] Their descendants on the island of Luzon make up no more than 10 families, who retain their Greek identities and have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals in the community.

Adamson University in Manila was founded by a Greek immigrant, George Lucas Adamson. He also founded the first Greek Orthodox church in the Philippines, two paper mills, and a shipping company.[4] Currently Greek immigrants and expatriates come into the country to work in businesses or enter as diplomats, tourists, or as friends or family of Filipinos. The Greek community in the Philippines also helps with the Philippine Orthodox Church (with the help of the Hellenic Orthodox Community-Foundation Inc Of Philippines). However, currently the Greek population in the Philippines is officially unknown but there are some Greeks living in the capital, where the location of the Exarchate of the Philippines where there is a small Greek church founded by the founded by the Greek community. But during 2013 the Greek embassy estimated about 120 Greeks permanently residing in Philippines as immigrants, migrants and expats https://world.greekreporter.com/2013/11/12/no-greeks-found-dead-in-philippines/no-greeks-dead-at-philippines/&ved=2ahUKEwi3mNb7353sAhWjxIUKHd4PBiIQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3diIA6W5gIiHqf_jP2cOd9. Most of them work in shipping and trade https://m.naftemporiki.gr/story/728232, most of them are married to Filipinos and have a permanent residency in the Philippines. However the current community is small and very few know about it. As of 2018 the Greek Community in the Philippines has created a Facebook group. Called Greeks in the Philippines, Έλληνες στις Φιλιππίνε. Now there is an estimate of 100 Greeks living in the Philippines http://en.protothema.gr/where-are-the-greek-communities-of-the-globe/

• Philippine School in Greece
• Greek settlement in the Philippines

• Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Philippines
• http://en.protothema.gr/where-are-the-greek-communities-of-the-globe/