10  February 2014 – Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega joined Missing Voices:  Perspectives from South and Southeast Asia held at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on January 30.

The conference panel also included South Asian Network Deputy Director Saima Husain, Long Beach API Family Mental Health Center Psychiatric Social Worker Myha Ngo and Khmer Girls in Action Young Men’s Empowerment Program Representative Seng So.  Graduate students mastering on social work attended the Conference.

The two main topics discussed are 1) Relevant history (including geography/neighborhoods) of the community in Los Angeles including strengths and unique needs of the community, and 2) challenges relevant to the community (both at the micro and macro Level) and insights on what social workers/service providers/policy makers need to know, including cultural considerations, issues of discrimination/racism/current events impacting the community. 

Consul General De La Vega shared her insights into the history of the Filipino-American diaspora, in particular, the wave of immigration to California.  She cited the strengths that characterize the Filipino-American community, such as resiliency, family-orientedness, strong sense of faith and religiosity, and empathy.  She explained the unique needs of the community including stronger support system, access to education, health care and immigration reform.  Consul General De La Vega ended her presentation by noting that given the fact that the Filipino-Americans form the largest ethnic community in California from the Asia-Pacific region, they have an important role to play in shepherding the interest and the   voice of the Asia-Pacific ethnic community in the State of California. END