PH Envoy Goes on Mission to Ashburton, New Zealand
A gift presented to Mayor Donna Favel. (Wellington PE Photo)
WELLINGTON 06 June 2018 – Ambassador Jesus S. Domingo embarked on a five-day mission to Ashburton District, South Island New Zealand, from 16 to 20 May 2018. He was cordially welcomed by Her Worship, Ashburton Mayor Donna Favel, and Ashburton Councilor Thelma Trono Bell, New Zealand’s first elected Filipino-Kiwi public official.
The Ambassador’s program included a courtesy call on the Hon. Andrew Hamilton Falloon, Member of Parliament for Rangitata electorate, as well as speaking engagements with the Ashburton District Council, Rotary Club of Ashburton, and Federated Farmers of New Zealand (FFNZ). He met with Mount Hutt and Ashburton College students and was invited for a tour of Kokura Farm Holdings Ltd.—seen as a model in the sector—wherein Filipino farmers play a crucial role in its success.
A key mission objective was to be able to meet with farming leaders/employers and the Filipino farm workers, to learn first-hand their concerns, especially vis-à-vis the government’s immigration policy, and be able to contribute in facilitating and strengthening management-OFW relations.
In his statements, he cited Mid-Canterbury as a “vibrant, welcoming place which is a farming drawcard for Filipino migrants”. Their numbers are steadily and rapidly growing in the South Island, being valued as constructively contributing to the local economy with a reputation for positive work ethics and impressive farming skills. He said that his job is to ensure that Filipinos continued to play a productive role in the town’s farming sector. Addressing the Ashburton District Council, he expressed appreciation for the warm and friendly accommodation and regard accorded to around 1000 Filipinos engaged in dairy farming.
Moreover, the Ambassador conveyed the Philippines’ interest in developing its own farm tourism industry and expanding farm education. NZ in general and Ashburton in particular, can serve as guides. The opportunity for knowledge and technology sharing is expected to encourage Filipino farm tourists to visit Ashburton, with Kiwis making reciprocal visits to the Philippines.
Ambassador Domingo delivered a presentation on #UniversalDiplomacy (UD) to the Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains. UD is the Embassy’s framework for public diplomacy built on the notion and principle that everyone is a potential diplomat promoting, among others, Philippine culture, languages, business, and tourism. Especially keen on the Diplomatic Chambers and City Diplomacy components of UD, the Club expressed keen interest to forge partnerships with its Philippine counterparts.
Likewise, he promoted #YAMBA and #VAMBA, which are the Embassy’s UD youth and volunteer ambassadors’ development program. He was joined by Youth Ambassador Ralph Zambrano of St. Patrick’s College of Wellington. #YAMBA Ralph spoke on the programme at the district’s two leading high schools, Mt. Hutt College and Ashburton College. The visit drew the attention of media. Ambassador Domingo was interviewed and featured in local newspapers such as the Ashburton Guardian and Ashburton Courier.
Ambassador Domingo was also among the VIP guests of Ashburton’s “Flores de Mayo” organized by the award-winning Filipino Dairy Workers NZ (FDWNZ) chaired by Mr. Earl Magtibay, a UP Los Banos alumnus. Domingo also took the opportunity to dialogue with members of the FDWNZ and Filipino Community.
Also known as Hakatere in Māori, Ashburton is the 23rd largest urban area in NZ and the third largest in the Canterbury Region. It lies in the middle of the fertile alluvial Canterbury Plains which allowed it to be an agricultural and pastoral farming centre. It is also noted for having the most cooperative companies and was named the "Cooperative Capital of New Zealand". Furthermore, Ambassador Domingo observed that Ashburton has a particularly strong and familial bond with its Filipino Kiwis. END
With officials of the Rotary Club Ashburton Plains, Perry Smith and Almond Royds. (Wellington PE Photo)
For more information, visit www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph / www.philembassy.org.nz or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/.