26 November 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver conducted a successful Consular Outreach Program to service Filipinos in Edmonton, Alberta from November 15 to 17.
The members of the Consular team that conducted the program included Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, Consul Melanie Diano, Ms. Magdalena Sosa, Ms. Alicia Bautista, Mr. Jandy Zulita and Mr. Edwin Villalon.
On November 14, the Filipino community of Edmonton, Alberta gathered to host a welcome dinner for Consul General Neil Ferrer on his assumption as the new Philippine Consul General in Vancouver, who has jurisdiction over Alberta province. Highlights of the dinner included, special guest, Ms. Rhonda Schwab’s announcement that the Canadian Red Cross has offered donations worth $7million as relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. Another special guest, Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk of Alberta announced that the Philippines will receive a matching grant from the Alberta government. The total amount CA$500,000 was later confirmed by Alberta Premier Alison Redford on November 18.
Also at the dinner was the crew of Balitang Canada who interviewed Congen Ferrer on the situation of the provinces affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Consul General echoed on-going Government relief operations and expressed his appreciation to Canada’s commitments to help the victims of the typhoon.
On November 15, Consul General Ferrer, Consul Diano and Honorary Consul General Esmeralda Agbulos met with Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk at the Parliament Building in Alberta to discuss the operational details of the program by the Government of Alberta to help the victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) by matching donations that Albertans make to the Canadian Red Cross. Also discussed was a fund raising campaign on November 24 wherein various Albertan stakeholders will be invited to make donations.
The warm meeting concluded with assurances from the Deputy Premier to Consul General Ferrer that his office will coordinate with Honorary Consul General Agbulos to make this a successful campaign. Honorary Consul General Agbulos will file a report on this matter at a later date.
On November 16, Consul General Ferrer met with Calgary-based Filipino community members and owner of Mabuhay News to discuss their relief efforts in Calgary which they called Operation Pagbangon which will be held on December 01. He also met with Mr. Dick B. Wong, Vice President of NutraPonics, an Alberta based company dedicated to the development and commercialization of an intensive food crop production system that address the growing global demand for safe, economical, sustainable, high-value nutritional products. The Nutraponics system is an advancement on aquaponics, a food production method that combines aquaculture, hydroponics and organic water treatment to create an optimized environment for plant growth.
Consul General Ferrer later met with the members of the Philippine Business Society of Edmonton led by Mr. Celso Andrade, the owner of Sunfreight Company in Edmonton, and informed them of the various services that the Consulate is providing to our Kababayans in Canada. He encouraged the members of the Society to work hand in hand with the Philippine Consulate to facilitate and support on-going and future business activities between the Philippines and Alberta.
Edmonton is home to an estimated 40,000 Filipino and Filipino-Canadians.END