15 January 2016 – Various Filipino organizations, in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, successfully celebrated the 2015 International Migrants Day and December as Month of Overseas Filipinos.
Consul Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan, designated as Acting Head of Post, together with other Consulate officials and staff, officially opened the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The day-long event included a dental mission and a medical mission, while Filipino community (FilCom) organizations hosted indoor and outdoor games, a raffle draw, karaoke challenge, and set up booths at the Consulate General’s parking lot filled with fun games, food and gift items to entertain those who attended the event.
In the evening program, the 2015 Gawad Dangal OFW-Western Region awarding ceremony was held by OFWCC in cooperation of the Kabalikat Civicom and TFSJ.
During the awarding ceremony, Vice Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague delivered an inspirational message while Vice Consul Alexander Joseph Estomo gave the closing remarks. The POLO-OWWA officers and Consulate personnel also joined in the celebration.
On December 18, 2015, as part of the International Migrants Day celebration, the FilCom organization Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW in cooperation with the OFWCC held a Gawad Pasasalamat, where more than 100 wards at the Consulate General’s Migrant Workers and Other Filipino Resource Center attended. The event included parlor games, a raffle draw, and the graduation ceremony for the Handicraft Training workshop facilitated by OFWCC as part of POLO-OWWA’s reintegration program. The resource center’s wards, including the 21 graduates of the handicraft training workshop, performed a dance number after the ceremony.
Through Gawad Pasasalamat, the FilCom organization Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW gave recognition to 70 individuals and 16 community leaders and supporters for their unwavering support of the group’s advocacy. Serenata Orchestra, The Filipino Stars of Jeddah and HNL Band provided entertainment during the awarding ceremony, as well as a mini-fashion show of Filipiniana wear made by Gawad Dangal Awardee Crisostomo Gentica.
Philippine Consul General Imelda M. Panolong, in her inspirational remarks, expressed her sincerest thanks to Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW for holding the event and also thanked OFWCC for kicking off the festivities a week earlier with the Gawad Dangal Para sa OFWs. She said that what better way to commemorate the OFW Month, than to recognize members of the Filipino community, who have, in one way or the other, contributed significantly to the advancement of the welfare and protection of the rights of the overseas Filipino workers in their individual, group or corporate capacities.
Consul General Panolong also underscored the importance of commemorating the International Migrants Day to recognize the efforts, contributions and rights of migrant workers worldwide. To add to the significance of this year’s International Migrants Day, and in solidarity with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Global Candlelight Vigil, Consul General Panolong led in the candle lighting to pay tribute to the migrants who lost their lives at sea and in the deserts and silent prayer for the 257 fellow Filipinos in Jeddah and the western region of Saudi Arabia who passed away in 2015. END