MANILA - Filipinos in New Zealand who continue to integrate into their community are also helping promote the Philippines through various business endeavors.

Just recently, six Filipino businesses in Christchurch held an event they dubbed as "THE BIG LAUNCH: Building a Stronger Philippine Community in Christchurch".

“They are our valued partners in reaching out to the Filipino community, promoting the values and culture that we hold dear as a people, engaging with the local communities to strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding, fostering greater business to business linkages, broadening networking and building on their strengths and complementarities to move mutually beneficial business opportunities and partnerships between the Philippines and New Zealand,” said Ambassador Virginia Benavidez.

The six Filipino businesses are among the trailblazers that harness and capitalize on Filipino talents, artistry and creativity in key areas of specialization -- cuisine and catering, web-based platform for business and community connection, news and print media, events planning and management and sounds and lights set up for functions.

The six Pinoy businesses in Christchurch are:

PALENGKE.CO.NZ - a platform for New Zealand’s Filipino residents to be able to do business and connect with the community and help fellow Filipinos gain a sense of belongingness.

CUSINA FILIPINA - offers full catering services featuring mainly Filipino dishes and other cuisines. This was formed by a group of Filipinos who keep longing for the distinctive taste of native Philippine dishes ranging from comfort food to all-time favorites to traditional Pinoy party specialties.

DAD’S GRILL - is the first Filipino take-away shop in Christchurch offering patrons the best quality litson manok (charcoal-roasted chicken) and other grilled choices namely litson liempo (roasted pork belly), pork barbeque, among other all-time favorite dishes which are famous in the Philippines.

KABAYAN NEWS “Keeping the Bayanihan Spirit Alive” - is the first Filipino newspaper in South Island. It intends to bring people together through its independent, up-to-date and accurate news reporting featuring New Zealand and Philippine culture. The newspaper has sections on lifestyle, sports and travel sections, accurate immigration advices and updates from several ethnic affairs sources, legal advice from Philippine Honorary Consul General Atty. Paulo Garcia and updates and bulletins from the Philippines Embassy in Wellington.

Kumusta Ka, Kabayan and D and J LIGHTS and SOUNDS - is the community broadcast partner, led by Mr. Dante Asinas and Mr. Ronnie Guevarra who shared their passion for music, sounds equipment and services to liven up event and functions.

Benavidez shared the five-C's--Christian faith, Cultural heritage, Community spirit, Compassionate attitude, and Care and Commitment--that make Pinoys well-loved.

“In infusing renewed strength, vim, vigor and vitality in our economic and socio-cultural relationship with New Zealand and other stakeholders in the local and regional arenas, today’s BIG LAUNCH is a real mile marker, another significant milestone in the economic horizon and cultural enrichment of the Christchurch of today and tomorrow,” Benavidez stated.