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| October 18, 2007 |
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| Bayanihan sa America Conference |
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| The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, the Department of Tourism, and the Department of Trade and Industry, successfully held the “Bayanihan sa Amerika: A conference of Filipino American |
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| Aware of the important role of Filipinos overseas as development catalyst in the Philippines, Ambassador Willy C. Gaa, represented by Deputy Consul General Antonio Morales in the Conference, said that the Bayanihan is “a perfect venue for Filipino communities to share and learn from each other’s experience in community building.” “The dialogue mechanism with the Philippine government and beneficiary organizations enables parties to develop or improve existing support mechanisms,” he added. |
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| (From L-R) DOT Attache Mr. Rene delos Santos, CFO Executive Director Jennifer Gonzales, SMART Representative Lito Villanueva, Landbank of The Philippines Remittance Co. Manager Ma. Cecilia Abante, Deputy Consul General Antonio Morales, Consul Wilfredo Santos and Consul Arvic Arevalo. |
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| The conference plenary speakers included Deputy Consul General Antonio Morales, who briefed the participants on the programs and services of the Consulate to the Filipino community; Mr. Bert Caoili, President of the Filipino Community in Seattle, who discussed the nature, operations and programs of the his association which is now in its 72nd year. He also presented various Filipino American groups sheltering our kababayans in Washington State. |
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| Deputy Consul General Antonio Morales (left) receives reference books and encyclopedia donated by the Books Exporters Association of the Philippines for the Consulate Library. BEAP Representative Karina Bolasco (left) and National Historical Institute Chairman Ambeth Ocampo (center) award the books. |
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Ms. Jennifer Gonzales, Executive Director of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas explained the role of the CFO in ensuring that all Filipinos leaving the country are adequately prepared to meet the practical and psychological challenges related to international migration, maintaining and strengthening ties with the Philippines, in extending support for their eventual re-integration, and in keeping Filipinos abroad aware of their participation in Philippine development.
With its aim to empower the Filipino communities in United States and enable them to harness their potential towards helping the community and helping the Philippines, the conference deemed it necessary for the government to conduct continuing dialogue and form a cohesive leadership to unite the Filipino associations towards this goal. The conference also suggested the establishment of mechanisms where Filipino communities can work with the government in a transparent and predictable manner so that projects can be easily and readily monitored. It also suggested amendment of restrictive government policies in the acceptance of donations and other forms of assistance.
Overall, the Bayanihan Conference provided a venue for strengthening the capabilities of the Filipino communities abroad and chart a program of action that will help realize the common objectives of development for all the communities in particular and the country in general.
Other speakers of the Conference were Congressman Hermilando Mandanas of the 2nd District of Batangas, Executive Director Maria Regina Angela Galias of CFO, Chairman Ambeth Ocampo of the National Historical Institute, Ms. Mellie Lopez of the Philippine Folklife Museum, Publisher and Ayala Foundation-USA Board of Director Mr. Gregorio Macabenta, Ms. Marily Mondejar of the Filipina Women’s Network, Mr. Freddy Guevarra of ANCOP Foundation, Mr. Rene delos Santos of the Department of Tourism, Ms. Maria Roseni Alvero of the Department of Trade and Industry, and exporters Mr. Dennis Lacar of Cavera Technology Group, Mr. Henry Sy of Pacific Tropical and Ms. Lennie Dicarlo of XRoads Philippine Sea Salts.
The Conference was made possible with the sponsorship of Smart Communications,Inc., Landbank Remittance Company, Books Exporters Association of the Philippines (BEAP) and the Asian Eye Institute. |
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