In line with the Philippine Embassy’s continuing priority to reach out and engage with the Filipino community throughout New Zealand, Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez and Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia organized Legal Orientation Seminars to promote greater understanding and knowledge of New Zealand’s laws, procedures and requirements to assist them in their stay, work, study and integration in the country. Following the success of the five Legal Orientation Seminars for Filipinos in Auckland and Wellington in 2013 and 2014, as part of the series of celebrations for the yearly anniversary of Philippine independence and in response to the numerous requests from the Filipino community to hold a similar one again, the Embassy of the Philippines and the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland held recently the first such Legal Orientation Seminars for Filipinos in Christchurch and Dunedin. Similar to the previous Legal Orientation Seminars, these provided Filipinos with useful, relevant and up-to-date information on New Zealand law including immigration, wills, enduring powers of attorney, trusts, relationship property, dealing with the police and courts, settlement support services and programmes for keeping ethnic communities and other areas that impact on their lives as migrants, workers or students. It was also a good opportunity to interact with the speakers to address concerns and issues for more effective settlement and better integration in New Zealand.

The Canterbury Philippines Assistance Group (CPAG) led by Mr. Alfie Alojado, Jr., Ms. Agnes Abuel Guda, Mr. Serge Ruiz, Mr. Ronald Manalili, Mr. Ron Villaseñor, Mr. Ronnie Guevarra and other officers and members organized the first Legal Orientation Seminar with Consul General Paulo Garcia as the main speaker on 14 September 2014 at the Every Nation Church Hall at Riccarton, Christchurch. The significant occasion started with one-on-one sessions with Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia, a perfect time to interact with him who is also the first Filipino barrister & solicitor licensed to practice as a director/partner in a New Zealand law firm to address specific concerns and issues privately. After these sessions, the orientation seminar commenced. In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez reiterated the importance of being informed of the prevailing laws, regulations and systems in New Zealand where an increasing number of Filipinos have made it their second home as well as the various pathways of seeking assistance from appropriate agencies and authorities in the country for their knowledge and benefit.

The Dunedin Philippine Club, Inc. with Ms. Marilou Guangco Scott as its President and Ms. Simona Nacua who spearheaded the holding of the first ever Orientation Seminar with Consul General Paulo Garcia speaking before their officers, members and Filipinos conducted the session on 18 October 2014 at the Dunedin Central Community Link.

Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia discussed legal matters of interest to Filipino migrants such as immigration, wills, enduring powers of attorney, relationship property, dealing with the police and courts, marriage, civil union and divorce and trusts. Specific scenarios were shared and discoursed to provide clearer picture of common cases encountered by Filipinos in New Zealand.

An enlightening open forum and interactive session between participants and Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia followed.

Ambassador Benavidez and Consul General Garcia thanked the organizers and the participants for their invaluable assistance, support and cooperation in mounting the Orientation Seminars, Mobile Consular Services and other programmes that aim to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the Filipino community on areas that matter most to them and bring the Embassy’s services more closely and directly to more than 40,350 Filipinos in New Zealand.

Participants to the Legal Orientation Seminars in Christchurch and Dunedin reiterated their deep appreciation to the Philippine Embassy based in Wellington and the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland for the highly successful and very informative events. They all said that spending their weekends at the Orientation Seminar was rewarding and time well spent. They were enriched with more information on a number of areas that impact significantly on their lives as migrants, workers or students in New Zealand paving the way to a smoother move to and adjustment in New Zealand. They are now in a better position to share what they have learned from the Seminars with other Filipinos even those who had been in New Zealand for several years already. They also gave positive and heart-warming feedback on the way that Consul General Garcia presented the relevant topics and spoke clearly and the friendly and approachable way he interacted with the participants. With the positive feedback and recurring requests from the participants and other Filipinos to hold a similar event, the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Consulate General will organize a similar one for the benefit of Filipinos in other parts in the North and South Islands in cooperation with the respective Filipino organizations and groups.

To date, the Philippine Embassy in Wellington and the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland have conducted six Legal Orientation Seminars for the benefit and well-being of the members of the Filipino community in the North and South Islands.