16 December 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lauded the Filipino community for their unity and for their great contributions to the promotion of the interests of the Philippines and the Filipinos in Malaysia during her meeting with members of the Filipino community on 11 December 2005 at Saloma Theatre and Restaurant, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

The Embassy arranged the meeting of the President with the Filipino community as a side line activity of ASEAN Leaders’ Summit and Related Meetings which she attended on 11-14 December 2005.

She told them their dollar remittances have helped stabilize the Philippine economy and keep the peso stronger.

Approximately 1,000 Filipinos and their Malaysian friends attended the meeting.

The President also handed out 20 trophies to outstanding Filipinos and Filipino associations who have distinguished themselves in their profession and who have continuously helped the Embassy in extending assistance to Filipino nationals in distress, particularly those in Sabah, Sarawak and Penang. The President also gave out trophies to three Malaysians for their support to the Filipinos in Malaysia, as follows:

Most Reverend Murphy Pakiam, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, for accommodating migrants, especially Filipinos, in parishes under his jurisdiction by providing them with office spaces where they can meet for fellowship and for undertaking community projects;

Bro. Anthony Rogers, Executive Director of the National Office for Human Development of the Roman Catholic Church of Malaysia, for providing Filipino migrants with spiritual guidance, livelihood opportunities and leadership training; and

Datuk Lim Sum Hoe, a Malaysian businessman who donated two (2) school houses for the C-GMA Classroom project and the seed money of two million pesos for the operation of a Scholarship Foundation to children of OFWs working in Malaysia.