06 February 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez and Philippine Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia recently organized Legal Orientation Seminars to promote greater understanding and knowledge of New Zealand’s laws, procedures and requirements to assist them in their stay, work, study and integration in the country.
The Philippine Embassy in Wellington and the office of the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Auckland conducted the first Legal Orientation Seminars for Filipinos in Ashburton in the South Island and Tokoroa in the North Island. As in the previous Legal Orientation Seminars in Auckland, Kerikeri, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington in 2013 and 2014, these provided Filipinos with useful, relevant and up-to-date information on New Zealand law including immigration, wills, enduring powers of attorney, trusts, relationship property, dealing with the police and courts, settlement support services and programs for keeping ethnic communities and other areas that impact on their lives as migrants, workers or students. It was also a good opportunity to interact with the speakers to address concerns and issues for more effective settlement and better integration in New Zealand.
The Filipino Dairy Workers in New Zealand, Inc. (FDWNZ), headed by Ms. Maiden Saba, organized the first Legal Orientation Seminar for Filipinos in Ashburton and surrounding areas in the South Island on December 12, 2014 at the Senior Citizens Hall. Also present were Ms. Cassandra Lee, Migrant Segment Head of International and Migrant Banking, ANZ; and Ms. Elena Retuya, Senior Personal Banker, Filipino Migrant Banking. The North Island Filipino Farmers Association (NIFFA) and the South Waikato Filipino Community led by Mr. Harvey Cabug and Mr. Robert Mindoro, respectively, together with their officers and members put up the First Legal Orientation Seminar for Filipinos in Tokoroa and the adjacent areas in the North Island on January 16 at the St. Pius Catholic Church Hall.
On both occasions, there were one-on-one sessions with Consul General Garcia, who is also the first Filipino barrister and solicitor licensed to practice as a director/partner in a New Zealand law firm. The orientation seminars followed the one-on-one sessions. In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Benavidez reiterated the importance of being informed of the prevailing laws, regulations and systems in New Zealand where an increasing number of Filipinos have made it their second home as well as the various pathways of seeking assistance from appropriate agencies and authorities in the country for their knowledge and benefit.
Consul General Garcia discussed legal matters of interest to Filipino migrants such as immigration, wills, enduring powers of attorney, relationship property, women’s rights, protection and empowerment, dealing with the police and courts, marriage, civil union and divorce and trusts. Specific scenarios were shared and discoursed to provide clearer picture of common cases encountered by Filipinos in New Zealand.
An enlightening open forum and interactive session between participants and Honorary Consul General Garcia followed. Lively fellowship with Ambassador Benavidez, Honorary Consul General Garcia, FDWNZ, NIFFA and South Waikato Filipino community groups capped the meaningful and rewarding orientation seminars in the North and South Islands.
Ambassador Benavidez and Consul General Garcia thanked the organizers and the participants for their invaluable assistance, support and cooperation in mounting the orientation seminars, mobile consular services and other programs that aim to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the Filipino community on areas that matter most to them and bring the Embassy’s services more closely and directly to more than 40,350 Filipinos in New Zealand.
Participants to the Legal Orientation Seminars in Ashburton and Tokoroa reiterated their deep appreciation to the Philippine Embassy based in Wellington and the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland for the highly successful and very informative events. They all said that they found the Orientation Seminars most rewarding and time well spent.
They also gave positive and heart-warming feedback on the way that Consul General Garcia presented the relevant topics and spoke clearly and the friendly and approachable way he interacted with the participants. With the encouraging feedback and recurring requests from the participants and other Filipinos, similar events are planned for the benefit of Filipinos in other parts in the North and South Islands in cooperation with the respective Filipino organizations and groups.
To date, the Philippine Embassy in Wellington and the office of the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Auckland have conducted eight Legal Orientation Seminars for the benefit and well-being of the Filipino communities across the North and South Islands. END