13 April 2015 - In a special forum for Filipino caregivers dubbed "Juana Know?" and consistent with its Gender and Development advocacy, the Philippine Embassy presented on 11 April 2015 a range of community resources accessible to professional and home care providers in Ottawa.
While welcoming the participants to the Embassy, Deputy Chief of Mission Uriel Norman R. Garibay, Chargé d' Affaires, ad interim, explained that the Forum was an extended celebration of National Women's Month in the Philippines and underscored the country's top 10 ranking in the World Economic Forum's 2014 Global Gender Gap Report. Mr. Garibay pointed to the work of the Philippine government in further empowering Filipino women at home and abroad in order to transform and enrich their lives. He also invited the participants to view the poster exhibit titled "Inang Bayan - the Founding Mothers of the Philippines" which the Embassy mounted on the occasion of National Women's Month in March.
Consul Porfirio M. Mayo, Jr. walked the participants through the basic consular services available to Filipinos, especially those needed in relation to their work and immigration status in Canada. Describing the Embassy's consular outreach missions and 24/7 emergency assistance, Consul Mayo extended assurances of the Embassy's readiness to service the needs of the community within and outside Ottawa. He also enjoined the caregivers to register for the 2016 national elections in order to contribute to positive changes in their home country.
For his part, Consul General Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo introduced the participants to financial literacy and financial planning. Vis-à-vis budget management and spending habits, he presented key ideas on savings and investments in preparation for retirement. He also coached the participants on detecting financial scams and provided an orientation on OWWA's reintegration program.
Upon the Embassy's invitation, volunteer presenters were on hand to flag helpful resources in the city that support foreign workers and transitioning immigrants. Ms. Petula Pinto of the Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF) briefed the participants on available OCLF loans for professional development, small business, including home day care centers, and social enterprise such as housing.
Ms. Sally Maulay of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI) spoke about client support for newcomers to Ottawa covering settlement, career transitions, community connections, pastoral care and youth programs. CCI also provides pro-bono legal assistance for immigration cases and other situations requiring legal support.
In the area of mental and emotional health, Ms. Lucia Harper proffered ideas on self-empowerment for a better quality of life, post-trauma or in stressful situations. She cautioned caregivers on the risks of multi-tasking and advised them to include in their support system or care team of relatives and friends helpful professional practitioners such as doctors, dentists and counsellors who are licensed to dispense medical and stress relief.
The forum closed with a presentation by Dr. Omega Garibay, wife of the Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission, on the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence as a potent tool for coping with work-related stress. She demonstrated these concepts through practical exercises that rounded out a productive afternoon for the participants.
"We trust that today's Forum helped participants gain new perspectives for their personal health and growth. The Embassy is grateful to the presenters who attuned our caregivers to the value of forward planning, introduced them to safety nets in the city and provided practical lessons on mental and emotional health. On this occasion, we were also pleased to affirm the Embassy's keenness to be counted as part of a caregiver's care team," Mr. Garibay concluded. END