27 May 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney organized and hosted a meeting with Filipino international students studying in various universities and colleges in New South Wales on May 02. Over 50 students undertaking postgraduate, undergraduate or TAFE (technical and vocational) studies, including recipients of Australian government scholarships, attended the meeting.
Philippine Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis welcomed the students and noted that they also serve as representatives of the Philippines in their respective schools and often become sources of information about the Philippines for other members of the academic community and the general public.
The meeting was convened by the Consulate General to update its directory of Filipino students in New South Wales (NSW), to inform the students of various political, economic and consular developments and relevant programs of the Consulate, and to facilitate the formation of a state-level council of Filipino international students.
Consul General Louis briefed the students on developments on the West Philippine Sea, economic developments such as the Investment Priorities Plan for 2014 to 2016, and upcoming commemorative activities for the 117th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence in June 2015. The students were encouraged to take part in the Philippine Independence Day activities.
Consul Marford Angeles gave a presentation on the consular services extended by the Consulate and encouraged the students to take part in the ongoing overseas voters registration so that they can vote for the 2016 Philippine National elections.
The meeting also aimed to provide information to Filipino international students on the programs and services extended by local agencies and groups for international students in NSW. The resource speakers invited by the Consulate in this regard were Mr. Nicholas Ngai, International Students Service Solicitor of the Redfern Legal Centre (RLC), Ms. Veronica Miller, Program Officer, International Student Portfolio of the NSW Police Force, Mr. Ryan Wright, Branch Manager of Commonwealth Bank, and Mr. Basil Nicholl, Home Loan Manager of Commonwealth Bank.
Mr. Ngai introduced the Redfern Legal Centre (RLC) and the free legal services it provides to international students such as legal advice on tenancy and housing matters, employment and discrimination issues, and credit, debt and consumer complaints.
Ms. Miller spoke on basic security measures that students should observe, other concerns that international students bring to the attention of the police, and the police assistance hotline numbers.
Mr. Wright and Mr. Nicoll presented the different products and services that international students can avail of at their bank.
Consul General Louis encouraged the Filipino international students to actively participate in the Consulate’s programs as well as in the activities of the Filipino community in New South Wales. She also asked the students to initiate activities to help newly-arrived Filipino international students, e.g. by organizing Filipino student organizations in their respective universities and educational institutions and by establishing a website providing helpful information to said students. END