23 December 2016 – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver celebrated the 2016 International Migrants Day and December as Month of Overseas Filipinos on December 16. 

Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, in his welcome remarks, underlined the Consulate’s recognition of the Filipino community’s contributions to the Filipino diaspora in Canada, highlighting the fact that Filipinos are now the third largest visible minority in Canada and the fastest growing ethnic immigrant group in the past three years.

Consul General Ferrer also emphasized the role of Filipino migrants and overseas Filipinos in helping shape the image and standing of the Philippines and the Filipino people as a whole, not just in Canada, but all over the world. 

To commemorate these events, the Consulate General invited settlement and social services agencies, MOSAIC B.C. and Options Community Services Society, to impart to the attendees the information, resources and various services that they can avail to allow them to fully participate in the community and society. 

Mosaic B.C., represented by Ms. Maria Aleli Poe, Mr. Reynaldo Blasco, Ms. Joy Jhocson and Ms. Girlly Cumberland, presented their various programs and services that include the following: settlement assistance; English language training; employment programs; interpretation and translation; counselling services; and community outreach for families and individuals, including children, youth and seniors.  Ms. Poe also mentioned that MOSAIC’s services are not just limited to immigrant-newcomers and refugees, but also to LGBTQ and temporary foreign workers.

Ms. Cynthia Tamondong and Ms. Malou Sibbaluca of Options Community Services Society, also informed the audience of its various programs for abused women and their children, and elderly: availability of crisis lines, counselling services, youth shelters and transportation for seniors and the disabled. END