16 September 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Santiago joined the “Eucharistic Celebration for the National Day of Migrants 2014” organized by the Chilean Catholic Institute for Migration (INCAMI), an agency of the Episcopal Conference of Chile.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, Monsignor Gala Fernandez, celebrated the Holy Mass at the Parroquia San Ramon in Santiago. The event was also attended by representatives of other diplomatic missions representing Australia, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Uruguay. In support of the event, the Philippine Embassy invited Filipino children to come in traditional Filipino costume.

The event was covered by Chilean national television and was televised in time for the celebration of Chile’s National Migrants’ Day on September 07. On the day itself, all parishes in Chile through the effort of INCAMI, held Migrant’s Day masses encouraging Catholics to cultivate a spirit of solidarity with migrants in Chile and Chileans living as migrants abroad.

Chile is home to approximately 292 Filipinos and 340,000 international migrants. END