THE Philippine Embassy in Greece hosted a diplomatic reception on Dec. 16 to commemorate the Philippines’ assumption of the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Greece. Philippine Ambassador to Greece Giovanni Palec, together with his wife, Madam Novelyn Palec, led the event, which was attended by Greek government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, embassy partners, and leaders and members of the Filipino community in Greece. Palec was accompanied by First Secretary and Consul Therese Cantada, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Christopher Castillo, along with officials from the Philippine Embassy, Migrant Workers Office, and the On-site Welfare Office. Also present were Philippine Honorary Consuls Nikolaos Margaropoulos in Thessaloniki, Anastasia Manolopoulou in Patra, and Alexandros Fasoulakis in Crete. The guest of honor was Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni. In his remarks, Palec underscored Asean’s growing global significance, noting that the regional bloc is now the world’s sixth-largest economy and plays a vital role in promoting regional cooperation, peace, and stability. He presented the Philippines’ Asean Chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future Together,” along with its official logo symbolizing unity, cooperation, shared direction, and the collective journey of Asean member states. He outlined the Philippines’ three main priorities during its Asean Chairship: strengthening peace and security anchors, developing prosperity corridors, and advancing people empowerment initiatives. Palec emphasized the shared values with Greece rooted in peace, democracy, and the rule of law. He cited the enduring collaboration between the two countries in the global maritime industry, noting Greece’s position as home to the world’s largest merchant fleet, and the Philippines’ role as a leading source of skilled and dependable seafarers. He commended the more than 20,000 Filipinos living and working in Greece for their contributions to both societies. Kefalogianni reaffirmed the strong friendship between the Philippines and Greece despite geographical distance. She highlighted the longstanding maritime partnership between the two nations and expressed appreciation for the Filipino community, particularly Filipino seafarers, whose work ethic and values have contributed positively to Greek society.