PH Ambassador to Japan Delivers Message during CFO Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020
Left photo: Poster of the Commission on Filipino Overseas’ (CFO) Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020. CFO Secretary Francisco P. Acosta (right, top) and Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik (right, bottom). (Tokyo PE photo)
TOKYO 28 August 2020 – The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) conducted the first “Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020” on 22 August 2020. The event was led by CFO Secretary Francisco P. Acosta and hosted by Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik.
The online “Ugnayan” is a free webinar, online meeting, and consultation with the Filipino community in Japan to discuss issues and challenges of overseas Filipinos and the government response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose C. Laurel V was one of CFO’s guest speakers during the event. In his message, Ambassador Laurel stated, “Mahalaga ang patuloy na dayalogo at pagkakamustahan upang malaman ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan. Higit itong nabibigyan ng importansiya ngayong taong 2020 habang ating patuloy na hinaharap ang mga pagsubok na dulot ng COVID-19 pandemic…Nagpapasalamat din ako sa CFO sa inyong patuloy na pagbibigay ng kaalaman tungkol sa mga programa para sa mga overseas Filipinos. Makakaasa po kayo na kami sa Philippine Embassy sa Tokyo, kasama ang ating mga Konsulado sa Osaka at Nagoya, ay patuloy na maglilingkod sa inyo.” (It is important to continue the dialogue and checking-in on each other so we can know the situation of our fellow Filipinos. These are even more important this year of 2020 as we face the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic…I would like to thank CFO for bringing awareness of their programs to overseas Filipinos. You can count on us here at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, together with the Consulates in Osaka and Nagoya, to keep on serving you.”)
The CFO invited several resource persons to contribute to this year’s Online Ugnayan sa Japan.
Divided into three parts, the program began with a segment entitled “Kamusta Kabayan: Effects of the Global Pandemic to Overseas Filipinos in Japan”, which provided an opportunity for Filipino community leaders and former CFO Presidential Awardees from different areas in Japan to give their testimonials based on their experiences on the COVID-19 situation.
The second part of the webinar, “Bayanihan in the Time of Pandemic: Government Assistance to Overseas Filipinos”, featured CFO resource persons discussing various subjects of interest to overseas Filipinos, including reintegration opportunities for repatriates who were affected by the pandemic. Attendees were also encouraged by CFO to submit entries for the Presidential Awards since the deadline for submission is extended up to 31 December 2020.
A guest from PhilHealth, Mr. Ringo Danao, also explained the Philippine Universal Health Care (UHC) Law and its implementation.
The last portion of the program gave tips on how to protect mental health during the pandemic. The participants were also provided time to raise their questions to the panelists before the program was formally closed by the CFO.
Secretary Acosta, in his message, mentioned that CFO, in cooperation with Philippine Embassies and Consulates General, will continue this program of Ugnayan even if it would have to be done online for the meantime as the program helps to further strengthen the CFO’s links to Filipinos overseas. END
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose C. Laurel V during the Commission on Filipino Overseas’ (CFO) Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020. (Tokyo PE photo)
Various speakers during the Commission on Filipino Overseas’ (CFO) Online Ugnayan sa Japan 2020. (Tokyo PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.tokyo.philembassy.net, https://www.tokyope.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJapan/.