FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN SASKATCHEWAN EXTEND
WARM WELCOME TO AMBASSADOR BRILLANTES 

19  November 2007 -  Ambassador Jose S. Brillantes, together with Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard B. Angeles and Consul Rhenita B. Rodriguez, visited the province of Saskatchewan, particularly the capital of Regina and the major city of Saskatoon,  on 27-31 October 2007,for an outreach mission. The goals of the outreach program were to network with the Filipino communities and overseas Filipino workers in these provinces, disseminate information on the Philippine government programs for overseas nationals, and assess the status of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the province of Saskatchewan Concerning Cooperation in the Fields of Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development.  

In Regina, about 300 members of the community were at the Halloween gathering of the Philippine Association of Saskatchewan Inc. at the St. Anne’s Church Hall on Saturday, 27 October, where the Embassy delegation conducted a briefing on services, programs and projects for Filipinos in Canada. Minister and Consul General Angeles presented the functions and services of the Embassy and the Consulate, as well as the different programs available to Filipinos and former Filipinos, such as the Balikbayan program, the Ambassadors and Consuls General Tour of the Philippines, dual citizenship and overseas absentee voting. In his remarks, Ambassador Brillantes spoke on the recent economic gains of the Philippines and the numerous contributions of overseas Filipinos to the Philippines, such as remittances. 

Earlier, the Ambassador and his delegation met with the Mayor of Regina, His Worship Pat Fiacco, and expressed delight over the good rapport between His Worship and the Filipino community in Regina,as well as gratefulness for the support that His Worship has always extended to Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians in Regina. The following day, 28 October, the team made the three-hour drive to Saskatoon, home to about 1,500 Filipino families. That evening, the Embassy delegation conducted a briefing for the Filipino community at the social hall of the Filipino Community Church. During the open forum, the Ambassador and the members of the team took turns replying to queries on the various government programs for overseas Filipinos, the present state of the economy and business opportunities in the Philippines.  

Ambassador Brillantes, Consul General Angeles and Consul Rodriguez also paid a courtesy visit to Saskatoon Mayor, His Worship Donald J. Atchison, who spoke fondly about the Filipino community in Saskatoon and extolled the many positive virtues of Filipino workers in the province. Back in Regina, they met with Minister Pat Atkinson, Minister of Finance, Minister Responsible for Immigration, Minister Responsible for Public Service Commission and Minister Responsible for SaskEnergy Incorporated. Minister Atkinson, who signed for Saskatchewan in December 2006 the MOU between DOLE and the province concerning Cooperation in the Fields of Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development, shared with the Embassy delegation that Filipinos have developed a good reputation as devoted, hardworking workers. The Minister also said that Saskatchewan is very happy with the quality of Filipino workers coming into the province, citing in particular their work ethic, loyalty and quality of skills. She encouraged Filipino workers to speak about their problems and concerns with the recruitment process, if any, with the Immigration department. Minister Atkinson also conveyed interest during the meeting for further enhancement of the provisions of the MOU. Ambassador Brillantes and his delegation likewise called on Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Gordon Barnhart at the Government House on Tuesday, 30 October, where they discussed the continuing emergence of the Filipino community, as a driving force in the province of Saskatchewan.  

/Gary