10 October 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa conducted consular outreach missions to the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia from October 2 to 6. The outreach missions were held in the cities of St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador and at Halifax in Nova Scotia, the latter being undertaken in parallel with the Economic Diplomacy Mission of Team Philippines in Canada.
More than 500 people, more than 100 at St. John’s and above 300 at Halifax, availed themselves of the outreach service. The Embassy has endeavored to undertake at least two outreach missions per year in various locations within Atlantic Canada – which comprises the three Maritime Provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, and the easternmost province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
As of the 2011 Household Census of Canada, the Filipino ethnic population in the Atlantic Provinces combined number at 3,375. About 1,320 Filipinos reside in Halifax, with about 160 living in St. John`s. The Philippines currently has an Honorary Consul General’s office in St. John’s with Honorary Consul General Hazel Ouano Alpuerto, and recently opened another one in Halifax with Honorary Consul General Sean Sears and Honorary Vice Consul Elizabeth Eustaquio-Domondon forming a tandem team.
Services provided during the outreach included passport renewal, notarial services and dual citizenship reacquisition. The outreach team received positive feedback from members of the community with some expressing that “Napakalaking tulong po yung consular outreach ninyo…. malaking savings po yun sa amin.” Some had expressed relief at being “able to apply for the reacquisition of my Philippine Citizenship which I always desire(d) since 2008.” The outreach mission enabled the community members to save time and money from having to make a special trip to Ottawa for consular services.
The outreach team was led by Consul Porfirio Mayo, Jr. with Consul Flerida Mayo and Embassy staff Edna Pataunia, Merlita Halili. Josephine Gonato and Jerome Ilagan. END