From left: Consul General (a.h.) Teimuraz Chichinadze, Philippines – Georgia Business and Friendship Association Inc Chairman Levan Akhvlediani; Dr. Lela Tsitsuashvili of the Museum of Fine Arts; and Ms. Marika Kirvalidze of the Georgian Olympic Committee. All expressed gratitude to Consul Cunanan for assisting Georgian nationals.
Georgians, led by Philippine Honorary Consul General Teimuraz Chichinadze; Philippine-Georgian Business and Friendship Association Chairman Levan Akhvlediani; and officials of the newly-formed “Friends of the Philippines in Georgia” took turns to thank Consul (a.h.) Thelmo Cunanan Jr for his assistance to Georgian nationals all over the Philippines.
In a dinner hosted by Consul Chichinadze at Old Metekhi Restaurant, the Georgians praised Consul Cunanan for his many activities to improve ties between Georgia and the Philippines. “I would like to propose this toast for Consul Cunanan for the great job he has been doing in strengthening Georgia – Philippines friendship and for taking good care of Georgians in the Philippines,” said Consul Chichinadze. “I have known Consul Cunanan for ten years. Georgia is very lucky to have him represent the country in the Philippines”.
For his part, Mr. Akhlevdiani praised Consul Cunanan’s responsiveness to Georgians in need. “I have known Consul Cunanan for a very long time. In fact, everyone knows that he and I were the first to respond to the Georgian sailors who were wrongly imprisoned in the Philippines in 2009,” he said. “I was in Tbilisi and I was the first to be notified about the situation. I immediately called Consul Cunanan, who was in Manila and who was then Executive Director of the Philippines – Georgia Business and Friendship Association. He was the first Filipino to act on this. This is clearly on record on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even reported by all the Georgian news agencies. Consul General Chichinadze also knows this very well as he personally accompanied Consul Cunanan when they met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandre Nalbandov in October 2009 to discuss the case. Thelmo Cunanan Jr was the first Filipino to open talks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. In fact, he is the pioneer of Philippines – Georgia relations dating back to 2002.”
http://jordan.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=443&info_id=4791
“My working relationship with Consul Cunanan started in 2009 with the case of the sailors. But that is such a long time ago. Since then, so much has been accomplished by his office, with so many other projects planned for 2015 both in Georgia and the Philippines. I look forward to my close collaboration with him,” added Consul General Chichinadze.
Although Consul Cunanan’s official consular office is located in Baguio City, he is often called upon by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia to carry out consular work all over the Philippines. For instance, in August 2014, Consul Cunanan was directed to personally take charge of the case of two Georgian nationals in the custody of Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in the capital city of Manila. Through Consul Cunanan’s efforts, the Georgians, who faced jail time in the Philippines, were deported to Georgia without incident. Then in September and October 2014, Consul Cunanan was again instructed to assist Georgian families based in Manila and Cebu (Visayas), with their visa documentation. In every case, Consul Cunanan and his team responded immediately, with great success and efficiency. Consul Cunanan has also helped numerous people from all over the Philippines with their Georgian visa procedures and has, in fact, deployed to Georgia over a dozen Filipino teachers coming from as far as Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.
“I would like to thank everybody who has helped with our efforts to bring the Philippines and Georgia closer together. It has been an honor to work for Georgia. Although I am officially based in Baguio, I have satellite offices in Manila and am at the service of the Georgian government wherever they need me and to Georgian people wherever they may be located in the country, should they seek my help. I am ready to assist anyone in need. Technology has helped our efforts. Cyberspace is wide open and the internet has eliminated physical boundaries and limitations. Our aggressive media campaign has also helped spread awareness of our efforts nationwide. We have an open-door policy in my office. I can be reached anytime by anyone,” said Consul Cunanan.
Aside from his consular duties, Consul Cunanan has also carried out and continues to carry out many nationwide socio-economic and cultural initiatives that are aimed at promoting Philippines – Georgia ties and friendship.
