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. Marivic Reyes and Ms. Monette Garcia in conducting mobile consular services for the benefit of Filipinos in Fiji on 23-24 July 2015. Called “The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand: Serving with a Smile, Going the Extra Mile and Reaching Beyond Our Grasp” mobile consular services, 96 Filipinos from Fiji availed of e-passports processing, notarial documentation, reports of birth and marriage, dual citizenship and overseas voting registration services. This is the 44th mobile consular mission conducted by the Philippine Embassy since October 2011. To date, a total of 18,335 Filipinos comprising 44.58% 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 Fiji 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. Ms. Francisca Luzviminda Aragon-Adricula, the first passport applicant and overseas voting registrant, conveyed her appreciation to the Philippine Embassy and said that the consular mobile team was “friendly and accommodating.” 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.

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 the Philippine Honorary Consul Dr. Virgilio De Asa, Fiji Filipino community officials Mr. Primo Relos, Jr. and Ms. Ms. Francisca Luzviminda Aragon-Adricula, and other members of the Filipino Community of Fiji for their vital support and exemplary cooperation that immensely contributed to a successful consular outreach mission in Fiji.

The next consular missions are being scheduled in Gore, South Island and Napier, North Island of New Zealand. Details will be uploaded at the Philippine Embassy website www.philembassy.org.nz and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineEmbassyWellingtonNewZealand.