27 August 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria celebrated Ninoy Aquino Day and National Heroes Day with a flag ceremony attended by Embassy officers and staff at the Embassy chancery on August 26, as well as with a financial literacy seminar and health awareness campaign for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), co-sponsored by the Pusong Pinoy Association (PPA), the largest Filipino community organization in Abuja.

The Financial Literacy seminar was held at the Philippine Embassy chancery on August 23 within the ambit of the Gender and Development (GAD) program of the Embassy, in line with its advocacy to cultivate beneficial financial habits among OFWs.

In welcoming more than 50 female and male OFWs to the seminar, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Alex Lamadrid remarked that OFWs should cultivate financial literacy in order to prepare for their eventual return to the Philippines. He noted that investing in the Philippine stock market is one vehicle which provides high returns if done wisely.

Ambassador Lamadrid also encouraged the OFWs to register as overseas voters.

The seminar on Investing in the Philippine stock market was facilitated by PPA Treasurer Rochelle  Geronimo and Alan Corpuz. They informed the OFWs about the advantages of investing in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) vis-à-vis other forms of investment such as bank deposits, government bonds, real estate, and others. They also discussed concrete steps on how to open an account for trading  in the  PSE.

Renowned spiritual leader and investment guru Bo Sanchez sent a special video message to the participants on investing in the Philippine stock market, which was enthusiastically received by the OFWs.

At the end of the financial literacy seminar, a lively Q&A session ensued, in which the facilitators clarified questions and issues raised by the OFWs. A large number of OFWs, including female professionals, spa attendants, and domestic helpers indicated their interest in opening accounts to invest in the PSE.

After the financial literacy seminar, a health awareness campaign was conducted by Ms. Andrea Abella, PPA’s Vice President and a registered nurse working with a multinational construction company in Abuja. Ms. Abella informed the OFWs about the nature of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and its prevention. In coordination with the Philippine Embassy, Ms. Abella also announced that PPA is enlisting all OFWs who wish to avail themselves of free vaccination against poliomyelitis, in view of its prevalence in Nigeria and other countries in West and Central Africa. Ms. Abella distributed handouts on Ebola and poliomyelitis for the information and reference of the OFWs.

The seminar closed with a simple dinner of Filipino dishes offered by the Embassy. END