As the Philippine Embassy continues its mobile consular services for the fifth year for Filipinos in New Zealand, Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez led the Philippine Embassy Mobile Consular Team composed of Vice Consul Glenn Joseph Q. Obach, Ms. Ma. Victoria Reyes, Mr. Edgar Matibag, Ms. Mary Bel Garcia and Ms. Monette Garcia in conducting the first series of mobile consular services for 2015 for the benefit of Filipinos in Tokoroa and the surrounding areas of the North Island in New Zealand on 16-19 January 2015. Called “The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand: Serving with a Smile, Going the Extra Mile and Reaching Beyond Our Grasp” mobile consular services, 396 Filipinos from Taupo, Rotorua, Gisborne, Whakatane, Te Puke, Tauranga, Whitianga, Putaruru, Tirau, Matamata, Cambridge, Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, Hamilton, Pukekohe, Auckland, Dargaville and surrounding areas in the North Island availed of e-passports processing, notarial documentation, reports of birth and marriage, dual citizenship and overseas voting registration services. This is the 38th mobile consular mission conducted by the Philippine Embassy since October 2011. To date, a total of 13,581 Filipinos comprising 33.02% of the 41,129 members of the Filipino community have benefitted from this first ever mobile consular service throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Cook Islands.

The Filipino community members in Tokoroa and other parts of the North Island reiterated their deep gratitude to the Philippine Government through the Philippine Embassy for rendering the much needed and sought after consular services right where they are residing and working. The first passport applicant was from Auckland, two-year-old Aizekiah G. Gorme, whose parents Aikin and Cathy conveyed their appreciation for the outreach consular services extended by the Philippine Embassy. Several Filipinos also gave very positive and highly appreciative feedback to the Philippine Embassy for this continuing excellent and timely service which saves them a lot of money, time, days off and resources as it would have been extremely costly, inconvenient and difficult if they had to go all the way to Wellington. “Friendly and approachable, respectful and accommodating, excellent service, mahusay (very good), well done, very pleased at the mobile services,” were among the written feedback given by the Filipinos.

The Philippine Embassy has always shared with the Filipino community the Philippine Government’s priority and concern for their welfare and well-being as the third major pillar of Philippine foreign policy. “In recognition of the vital roles and crucial contributions of the global Filipinos to nation-building in the Philippines and New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Cook Islands, the Philippine Embassy will continue to reach out to them through our mobile consular services and dialogue, demonstrate its caring and sharing spirit and bring the Embassy’s services closer to more than 41,000 Filipinos in these countries,” Ambassador Benavidez stated.

Ambassador Benavidez and the Embassy Mobile Consular Team reiterated their deep appreciation to Mr. Harvey Cabug, President, North Island Filipino Farmers Association (NIFFA), and Mr. Robert Mindoro, President, South Waikato Filipino Community, as well as to Julius Caoing, Ireneo Molina, Cris Marinas, Geovani Virginiza, George Ticar, James Gandeza, Nilo Llubit, Marcelino Cabigat, Alvin Tagle, Paterno Obillo, Jhun Valencia, Joy Cinas, Jun Suyat and Roger Alcantara of NIFFA, and to Teddy Evangelista, Richie Salavante, Helen Flintoff, Sophia Javier, Jenny Shaw and Pedro Aballe of the South Waikato Filipino Community for their vital support and cooperation that immensely contributed to a successful consular outreach mission in Tokoroa.

Details of succeeding consular missions are uploaded at the Philippine Embassy website www.philembassy.org.nz and Facebook at embassy@wellington-pe.co.nz.