16 April 2015 – In a special forum for Filipino caregivers dubbed “Juana Know?” and consistent with its Gender and Development advocacy, the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa presented on April 11 a range of community resources accessible to professional and home care providers in Ottawa.
Deputy Chief of Mission Uriel Norman R. Garibay, Chargé d’ Affaires, opened the forum. In his remarks, he said that the forum also served to celebration of National Women’s Month in the Philippines. Further, he underscored the Philippines’ inclusion in the Top 10 for gender equality in the 2014 Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and noted the Philippine government’s efforts to further empower Filipino women at home and abroad.
Consul Porfirio M. Mayo, Jr. outlined the basic consular services relevant to Filipinos working in Canada and those with immigration issues. He described the Embassy’s consular outreach missions and extended assurances of the Embassy’s 24/7 readiness to service the needs of the community within and outside Ottawa. He also enjoined the caregivers to register for the 2016 national elections.
Philippine Consul General Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo gave an introduction to financial literacy and financial planning, where he presented key ideas on savings and investments in preparation for retirement. He also lectured on the detection of financial scams and provided an orientation on the reintegration program being given by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Other resource speakers invited talk about the support services for foreign workers and transitioning immigrants in Canada.
Ms. Petula Pinto of the Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF) briefed the participants on available OCLF loans for professional development and small business, such as for opening a home day care center and acquiring a home.
Ms. Sally Maulay of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI) spoke about client support for newcomers to Ottawa related to settlement, career transitions, community connections, pastoral care and youth programs, as well as pro-bono legal assistance for immigration cases and other situations requiring legal support.
Ms. Lucia Harper spoke on self-empowerment for a better quality of life, following stressful or traumatic situations. She cautioned caregivers on the risks of multi-tasking and advised them to include in their support systems contact details of professional practitioners such as doctors, dentists and counsellors who are licensed to dispense medical and stress relief.
For the final segment of the program, Dr. Omega Garibay, the wife of Deputy Chief of Mission Garibay, engaged the audience with an interactive talk on the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence as a potent tool for coping with work-related stress.
In closing, Deputy Chief of Mission Garibay said, “We trust that today’s Forum helped participants gain new perspectives for their personal health and growth. The Embassy is grateful to the presenters who attuned our caregivers to the value of forward planning, introduced them to safety nets in the city and provided practical lessons on mental and emotional health. On this occasion, we were also pleased to affirm the Embassy’s keenness to be counted as part of a caregiver’s care team.” END