Ottawa - Ambassador Leslie Gatan spearheaded all of Team Philippines in Canada - comprising all resident and non-resident Philippine diplomatic and consular officers covering Canada, in converging in the historic and emergent city of Halifax to conduct its annual policy and program planning workshop from 3 to 5 October 2013 and a consular outreach mission for Filipino nationals in Atlantic Canada at the Halifax World Trade and Convention Center.
The first ever Philippine Honorary Consular Office in Nova Scotia also formally opened in the city with Mr. Sean Sears, of the Ogden Pond Group, and Mrs. Elizabeth Eustaquio-Domondon, past President of the Filipino Association of Nova Scotia, taking on the role of Honorary Consul General and Honorary Vice-Consul respectively. Together, they will be facilitating engagements between the Philippines and Nova Scotia in the long-term.
Nova Scotia is now Canada's definitive Atlantic gateway to the global economy. Having a rich history and tradition of manufacturing, industrial, creative services, innovation and research prowess, the province is well positioned to leverage Canada's value proposition to the rest of the world. Furthermore, the province is now home to a growing concentration of Filipino-Canadians, with the Philippines having been the top source of new migrants for Canada in the past four (4) years. Building on such considerable commercial potential and people-to-people foundations, Team Philippines undertook scoping activities in advancing Philippines-Canada bilateral relations and exploring various opportunities in creating value between the Philippines and Canada, and the pursuit of a better quality of life for all concerned.
Delegates to the economic mission included Dr. Josyline Javelosa, Philippine Agriculture Attache based in Washington, DC, Michelle Sanchez, Commercial Counsellor stationed in New York, Vernie Morales and Mitch Dy, Tourism Directors in Chicago and New York respectively, and Minister Eric Tamayo and First Secretary Flerida Mayo from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa. Meetings were held with relevant business enterprises, academic institutions and tour and travel operators. Ambassador Gatan led the Team in presenting the Philippine value proposition before the Nova Scotia Business Incorporated. The Philippines also became the first feature country in a planned series of international focal events being organized by the American Chamber of Commerce of Atlantic.
Substantive presentations were also undertaken during the economic diplomacy workshop covering the inclusive and sustainable growth agenda under the Philippine Development Plan and millennium development goals, doing business with the Philippines, opportunities in agri-business in the Philippines, tourism promotion activities, and human resources and the labor-related concerns. The honorary consular network of Team Philippines Canada from Calgary, Charlottetown, Edmonton, Halifax, St. John`s, and Winnipeg took part in lively discussions during the workshops - providing useful insights and experiences from their respective jurisdictions.
Ms. Marianne Etter provided the visitng delegation with a preview of Canada`s Atlantic Gateway and Corridor Initiative while Mr. Rudy Sabas, of the Association of Canadian Colleges presented on ongoing partnerships of the Canadian International Development Authority with local government units in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Consul General Neil Ferrer, as incoming Philippine Consul General for Vancouver, and Consul Porfirio Mayo led the consular consultations with various consular teams - Consul J. Susana Paez, Vice Consul Bolivar Bao and Labor Attache Leonida Romulo from Toronto PCG, Consul Anthony Mandap, Consul Melanie Diano and Labor Attache Bernardino Julve from Vancouver PCG, Honorary Consul General Esmeralda Agbulos from Edmonton, Honorary Consul General Orlando Marcelino and Honorary Consul Ronaldo Opina from Winnipeg, and Honorary Consul General Leticia Da Rosa of Charlottetown with Honorary Consul General Godofredo Aguirre of Calgary taking part in the Economic diplomacy workshops as well. The gathering provided an opportunity to discuss policies and practices relative to providing consular services in Canada.
Parallel to the consular consultations and economic diplomacy workshop, and economic diplomacy mission to the province, consular outreach services were provided to more than 400 Filipinos nationals in Halifax, Nova Scotia and in St. John's in Newfoundland and Labrador primarily by the consular staff of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa comprised by Edna Pataunia, Merlita Halili, Josephine Gonato and Jerome Ilagan. Filipinos from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island also availed themselves of the opportunity provided by the outreach mission.
Team Philippines in Canada renewed its commitment towards helping fulfill Philippine development goals by working on mutually beneficial transactions between the Philippines and Canada. END
