31 August 2023, CANBERRA – Philippine snacks are available in Tuvalu stores and Tuvaluans have enjoyed telenovelas featuring Filipino artists. During her visit to Tuvalu earlier this month, Philippine Ambassador to Tuvalu Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega visited local stores and restaurants and saw Philippine products being sold in the island.

Ambassador De La Vega said, “As coastal people, Filipinos and Tuvaluans share the island culture and I am pleased to see that Tuvaluans are able to enjoy Philippine products.” Tuvaluans also spoke of the Philippine telenovela characters they know and how popular they are in the country.

A missionary from the Philippines, Fr. Reynaldo Getalado, was appointed by Pope Francis to serve the Catholic community in Tuvalu in 2014. Fr. Rey is the lone Filipino in Tuvalu and has served in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. – END