7 November 2005 – Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. (CDA) Luis T. Cruz of the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that 325 Filipino workers in Malaysia received their Certificates of Graduation at the 9th Commencement Exercises of the Filipino Workers Resource Center Skills Training Program (FWRC-STP) held on 30 October 2005.

CDA Cruz said that the FWRC-STP designs and implements various courses that prepare Filipino workers for their eventual return to the Philippines upon completing their work contracts in Malaysia, providing them with useful skills and empowering them to become more knowledgeable and productive members of society.  It is directly administered by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuala Lumpur (POLO-KL) and is overseen by the Embassy.

CDA Cruz remarked that the recently concluded graduation rites conferred recognition upon outstanding students in academics and co-curricular activities such as journalism, sports and leadership (as student council officers), as well as recognition of the teaching faculty’s resource persons who shared their time and expertise in training the Filipino migrant workers for free.

During the occasion, thirteen outstanding Malaysia employers were also acknowledged.  These employers were nominated by their own Filipino workers who trained under the FWRC-STP.  Recognition was also given to deserving recruitment agencies – particularly the Filipino manpower firm Unity Worldwide and the Malaysian recruitment agency Agensi Pekerjaan Novation Sdn. Bhd. – for their laudable services to the Filipino workers.

CDA Cruz said that Ms. Marilyn B. de la Rama led the graduating batch as Class Valedictorian.  She was also named the Most Outstanding Student Leader in recognition of her contributions as incumbent President of the FWRC-STP Student Council.

Princess Dr. Becky M. Leogardo, a successful Filipino businesswoman and philanthropist, delivered the commencement address on the theme “Empowerment for Global Competitiveness.”  Dr. Leogardo manages a beauty and body-care products company in Malaysia.

CDA Cruz added that among the notable guests at the occasion was Datu Lim Sun Hoe, a Malaysian benefactor of the FWRC-STP who donated the equivalent of Pesos Two Million in scholarships for needy Filipino children of OFWs working in Kuala Lumpur.

As of this year, the FWRC-STP has already graduated more than 4,000 Filipino trainees since its inception more than seven years ago.  From just five courses, it now offers 26 courses that were conducted in 35 classes during the present school year.  CDA Cruz stated that the FWRC-STP graduation ceremony this year provides a testament to its current significance to the Filipino community in Malaysia, and a measure of its continuing relevance to the Filipino workers in the years ahead.  END