21 May 2014- The Philippine Embassy in Brasilia, led by Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Eva G. Betita, conducted a consular outreach mission in Florianopolis, State of Catarina, Brazil from May 17 to 18 May.

Filipinos in Florianopolis and nearby cities, mostly from the religious group Members Church of God International (MCGI), availed of the services provided by the mobile team. The Embassy team serviced 31 passport applicants and 57 overseas voter registrants during the weekend mission. The team also accepted applications for civil registration and answered queries on consular matters.

In her meeting with the Filipino community, Ambassador Betita stressed the importance of involving overseas Filipinos in policy-making by empowering them to choose the country's leaders especially in the 2016 Philippine national elections.

Ambassador Betita also met with the leaders of MCGI, namely Presiding Minister Bro. Eliseo Soriano, and Vice-Presiding Minister and known media personality Daniel Razon. The two MCGI leaders attended the Filipino community meeting. Messrs. Soriano and Razon were instrumental in helping the Embassy organize one of its most successful outreach missions in recent years.

MCGI is an international religious group with headquarters in the Philippines. It has a growing presence in Latin America due to its missionaries deployed in various countries in the continent and an internet program being aired in Portuguese and Spanish.

In Brazil alone, MCGI has about 70 locales or chapters with thousands of Filipino and Brazilian members. Aside from its evangelical mission, MCGI aims to replicate in Brazil its various charitable programs in the Philippines which include medical, social welfare and other forms of assistance thereby promoting positive awareness of the Philippines in Brazil.  END