18 July 2014 - On July 3, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Mrs. Mary Fatima “Timi” Gomez-Aquino accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez, Minister and Consul General Arlene Gonzales-Macaisa and Ms. Kate Swan, Policy Officer of the South East Asia Division of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) visited Christchurch as part of his New Zealand visit from June 30 to July 5.
Senator Bam Aquino, the youngest Senator of the 16th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, is a multi-awarded youth leader and social entrepreneur. He currently chairs the Philippines Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship and the Senate Committee on Youth. Upon the invitation of the New Zealand Government, Senator Bam Aquino and Mrs. Timi Aquino visited Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.
Senator Aquino attended a Filipino community gathering at the Christchurch Migrant Trust. The Senator listened to three Filipino community leaders introduce themselves and acknowledge other Filipino community leaders present, namely Mr. Mr. Alfie Alojado, President of the Canterbury Philippines Assistance Group (CPAG), Ms. Maiden Saba, Chairperson of the Filipino Dairy Workers of New Zealand and Ms. Delia Richards, Liaison Officer of the Philippines Community Support Services and Christchurch Migrant Centre Trust.
Ms. Richards presented Senator Aquino and Ambassador Benavidez with the first copies of a handbook entitled, “Philippines-New Zealand Connection: A Handbook to Assist Integration 2014”, the first-ever information material to assist Filipino workers in Christchurch to assimilate themselves in the wider community. Ambassador Benavidez, in her message in the Handbook, called it “a highly useful reference material for the Filipino community in Christchurch” and one that “concretely manifests the spirit of bayanihan (volunteerism and coming together), selflessness, sacrificial service to help make a positive and distinctive difference in the lives of fellow Filipinos.”
Ambassador Benavidez introduced Senator Bam Aquino and Mrs. Timi Aquino and thanked the Filipino community for organizing this first-ever gathering with a visiting Filipino Senator in Christchurch.
Senator Bam Aquino shared with the Filipino community the deep appreciation of the New Zealand Government and people for the vital roles and contributions of more than 40,350 Filipinos in the different sectors and in the long-term rebuilding and reconstruction of Christchurch and the gratitude of the Philippine Government and the Filipino people for their continuing love of their Motherland and their families, and generous assistance and cooperation especially in times of disaster and great need. He also shared with them the positive economic developments, good governance measures and continuing efforts to build a strong and more prosperous Philippines where Filipinos can benefit from inclusive growth and brighter economic opportunities. Senator Aquino answered questions on current developments in the Philippines and addressed the issues and concerns raised on the recruitment and deployment of Filipinos in Christchurch.
After the Filipino community gathering, Senator Aquino also met with Mr. Henry Studholme, Founder and Director of Prime Foods NZ, one of the major smoked salmon providers in New Zealand’s domestic market, and a joint venture partner with Philippines based Alliance Select Foods International which has a state-of-the-art seafood processing plant in Southern Philippines and generated employment for Filipinos in this area. END