The Ugnayan Series
Given the policy pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte of bringing government services closer to Filipinos overseas and as part of its mandate of strengthening relations with the Filipino community overseas, the CFO will be conducting the Ugnayan sa Canada: Youth Forum and Consultation with Filipino Migrants in Canada. The activity will be conducted in the top three destination provinces of Filipino emigrants in Canada – Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
The Philippine Embassy in Canada has brought up the need to tackle the issues and challenges faced by Filipino-Canadian youth. A study made by the Institute for Research on Public Policy in Canada in 2014 has found there is considerable upward mobility among the children of immigrants in Canada, but Filipino youth are not always part of that success story. Filipinos are less likely to hold a degree than their parents and their peers in other immigrant groups. Moreover, some Filipino-Canadian youth who were born in Canada and never had the opportunity to visit the Philippines and experience first-hand their Filipino culture and heritage, usually have less appreciation of their Filipino roots.
CFO touch based with Filipino Diaspora in Canada
In 2012, the CFO conducted Bayanihan sa Canada: A Conference of Filipino Community Centers and Association in Canada to explore ways by which the Philippine government can render support to programs and services for them. The conference was conducted in Toronto and Vancouver, with an aim of informing the Filipino community centers and associations about viable businesses and investments available in the Philippines.
The series of activities fostered cooperation among Filipino community centers and associations, and relevant agencies by discussing the challenges they face and determine what measures can be undertaken to support them. During the forum and consultation the following issues and challenges were brought up – immigration and legal issues for caregivers, reacquiring of Filipino citizenship, discrimination, facilitate the evaluation and recognition of the educational, mutual recognition of professional qualifications and skills of Filipinos, and encouraging economic investments, among others.
The Bayanihan sa Canada was the first of its kind and to many participants it was a success of unity back in 2012.
