PRESS RELEASE NO. 30-2020
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 24 November 2020 – The Philippine Consulate General partnered with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) for the first online Ugnayan sa Hawaii on 21 November 20202 in Hawaii / 22 November 2020 in the Philippines. The event was broadcast live via Zoom and the Facebook pages of the Consulate and CFO.
With the theme #WeRiseAsOne, the event discussed timely and relevant issues to Filipinos in Hawaii.
In his opening remarks and presentation, CFO Secretary Francisco Acosta thanked overseas Filipinos for their contributions to the Philippines, including increasing annual remittances despite COVID-19. He lauded Filipino front liners’ abroad for their sacrifices and assured that the Philippine Government is on top of the situation despite the pandemic and recent typhoons.
Speaking on behalf of Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno, Deputy Consul General Angelica C. Escalona assured the community that the Philippine Consulate General has been monitoring their situation in the midst of the global health crisis and affirmed the Consulate’s commitment to service.
In his pre-recorded video message, Hawaii Lt. Governor Josh Green shared what the state government had been doing to address the pandemic. He said that the theme for the Ugnayan is apt, as the way to rise above current challenges is to do so collectively.
Hawaii Senator Bennette Misalucha and Chair of the Filipino Complete Count Committee (FCCC) in Hawaii served as resource speaker on the US Census 2020. She recounted how the FCCC successfully pivoted and was able to maximize technology and networks to educate and encourage participation in the census.
Dr. Agnes R. Malate, Director of the Health Careers Opportunity Program, University of Hawaii in Manoa talked about the Filipino community’s COVID-19 response. She briefed the audience about the partnership between the Filipino Community Center and The Legal Clinic to come up with an information hub on COVID-19, and resources available to address it.
Director Christopher Robinson of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Honolulu Field Office provided updates on immigration services and operational adjustments mandated by health protocols. The Honolulu Office is currently operating at an almost 100 percent and citizenship oath taking ceremonies continue but in smaller groups.
CFO Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik talked about updates on the agency’s programs and services, particularly the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (Linkapil) program and the Presidential Awards for Filipino individuals and organizations.
Mr. Carlo Magno Salazar of the Bureau of Immigration informed Ugnayan participants of current Philippine inbound and outbound travel restrictions.
Lastly, Filipino community leader Roland Casamina cited the various Filipino community organization initiatives to extend support through food drives, healthcare and testing, information dissemination, employment assistance legal advice, and so on. He said that challenging times have inspired Filipinos to continue being resilient and creative in promoting Philippine culture and tradition.
Fil-Am journalist Annaliza Burgos of KITV 4 Island News Hawaii hosted the online Ugnayan. END
