Local FilCom Organization formed as PH Mounts Asiad Campaign
HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go assured Filipinos in Hangzhou on 03 October of whole-of-government support for their welfare and of his personal commitment to this cause.
The pledge was made at a dinner get-together hosted by Consul General Josel F. Ignacio for the visiting Senator and the city’s Filipino residents at the Homey88 restaurant in Gongshu District, co-owned by kababayan Christian Valdellon.
In attendance were about 20 Filipinos from across Hangzhou who constitute the nucleus of the nascent organization dubbed Hangzhou Filipino Community.
Senator Go, who is Senate Committee on Sports Chair, expressed elation at the opportunity to meet the city’s Filipinos against the backdrop of their collective support for the Philippines’ medal bid at the then ongoing 19th Asian Games.
He outlined his legislative initiatives to advance OFW interests, including his co-authorship of Republic Act No. 11641 creating the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and his push for a dedicated OFW hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Addressing the gathering, host Consul General Ignacio thanked the Senator for setting time aside to engage the city’s Filipinos true to his “Bisyo ay Serbiyo” slogan. He also lauded the Filipinos for banding together and forming an organization which would facilitate coordination and service delivery. For some years and until this development, the municipal capital of Zhejiang has had no organized group of Filipinos notified to the Consulate General (PCG) in Shanghai.
Co-founder Lorelei Saren, an academic, first reached out to the PCG concerning the group’s formation in late September. The PCG lost no time organizing the get-together, seizing the opportunity of Senator Go and the Consul General’s presence in the city.
Joining the event were officials from PCG in Shanghai, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and compatriots from
the port city of Ningbo.
While in Hangzhou, Senator Go lent his full and enthusiastic support to Filipino athletes, attending basketball, athletics, boxing and other matches and cheering for the Philippines. END
