08 April 2015 – More than 80 Filipino community leaders and representatives of Filipino community organizations attended on March 08 the bi-annual meeting between them and the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney in New South Wales (NSW). The attendees included leaders from as far as Dubbo and Bathurst, 393 and 256 kilometers, respectively, southwest of Sydney Central Business District.
Philippine Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis, welcomed the Filipino community leaders and read the meeting agenda. She also said that the Consulate General took the opportunity provided by Mr. Wendell Tamayo’s visit to Australia to invite him to speak on the role of overseas Filipinos in Philippine nation-building.
In celebration of the 2015 National Women’s Month, Consul General Louis introduced the theme, “Juana, Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na!” from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as well as its logo. Consul General Louis gave recognition to the women who attended the meeting and gave them bookmarks printed with the said theme and logo. She also encouraged the members of the Filipino community to organize activities in celebration of National Women’s Month.
Mr. Wendell Adrian Tamayo, Chief of Staff and Fellow of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), gave a short talk entitled, “The Role of Overseas Filipinos in Philippine Nation-Building”. He discussed a revitalized Filipino ideology rooted in the strengths of our culture which will bring about enlightened individual Filipinos whose aspirations align with the collective aspiration of all Filipinos, both within the country and abroad, and will run an enlightened government that will enable the Philippines to face future challenges. Mr. Tamayo‘s main proposition is that the contribution of overseas Filipinos need not be limited to the remittances, which boosts the economy, but, more importantly, in terms of the wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise that overseas Filipinos can share to encourage and intensify entrepreneurial activities in the Philippines.
Consul General Louis provided the Filipino community leaders with latest information regarding the West Philippine Sea and the Philippines’ case before the Arbitral Tribunal. The leaders were also reminded that the ongoing overseas voters registration will end on 31 October 2015 and that the Voter’s IDs of applicants during the 2013 mid-term elections are available for collection at the Consulate General.
On the trade and investment front, Consul General Louis presented the 2014-2017 Investment Priorities and invited those considering engaging in business in the Philippines in these areas to coordinate with the Consulate General. Consul General Louis also promoted Manila FAME which will take place later in March and October this year.
Tourism Attaché Consuelo Jones gave an update on Philippine tourism, informing the participants that Australia remains to be the Philippine’s 5th top source of tourists and its 3rd top spending market. She also gave an update on the initiatives of Department of Tourism (DOT)-Sydney such as its new website, its presence in social media, and Philippine tourism advertisements in buses and train stations in Sydney and Melbourne. Tourism Attaché Jones also informed participants of the DOT’s Visit the Philippines Year 2015 campaign, the upcoming APEC ministerial Meeting and Leaders’ Summit and the Madrid Fusion in Manila, among others. She asked the leaders to continue to encourage friends and family to come and visit the Philippines.
Consul General Louis briefed the Filipino community leaders on the upcoming inaugural “Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) of the Philippines for Posts in the Pacific/Oceania” which will take place sometime in May this year. A number of attendees expressed interest in the said tour of the Philippines which aims to deepen appreciation of the country’s natural resources, rich history, culture and heritage.
Consul General Louis informed the meeting of the upcoming activities in commemoration of the 117th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, including 11 scheduled flag-raising ceremonies organized by Filipino community organizations in various cities in NSW (Bathurst, Moree, Rosehill, Parramatta, Penrith, Dubbo, Blacktown, Campbellton, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga and Gosford) in coordination with their respective local city councils. She also informed the meeting of six upcoming consular outreach missions that will be undertaken in Moree, Orange, Dubbo, Hawkesbury, Blacktown and Fairfield.
In a ceremonial handover after the meeting, Consul General Louis received from Philippine Community Council New South Wales (PCC-NSW) Vice President for Internal Affairs Evelyn Beed, a check for AUS$1,000.00 raised during the mass held on 07 February 2015 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Seven Hills, NSW, organized by PCC for the intentions of the 44 SAF soldiers who perished in the Mamasapano incident. PCC later transmitted the amount directly to the Department of Social welfare and Development. END