Departure for Canada, and thanks
On July 26th we departed the Philippines for Canada, already planning our return! We would like to thank our friends, family, associates, business partners and their staff for all of their assistance during our trip. We are also grateful for the warm hospitality of all people whom we met – maraming salamat po for making our visit so memorable!
Specifically, Fely and Stacey would like to thank Gloria Joaquin, Mrs. Edda Pangilinan (Hon. Consul General) and volunteers, Leanne Rowat (MLA), Atty. Villaneuva and Reverend Dr. Malou Villaneuva, Edgar and Olive Tolentino, Edith Esguerra, Lie and Willie De Jesus, Johnny Andrade, Ian C. Arceo, Jan Chavez-Arceo, Marcus Ong, Mrs. Teh, Lulette Portuguez, Andrew Jones, Engr. Leonardo Sia, Wilhelmina Tecson, Marilyn Duenas-Arcenas and family, Engr. Shionel Blais, Mr. and Mrs. Medina, Susan Isorena-Arcega, Canadian embassy (Manila), Mayor of Magalang and his council members, Mayor Boyito M. Dizon and council members, Clariza M. de Guzman, Gie Herrera and all Radyo Natin – Guimba volunteers, Osmundo Esguerra and family, Tolentino family, Esguerra family, Neliza Navales, Atty. Emelda Macadangdang, Atty. Anita Chauhan, TEAMS, the staff of Golden Miles (esp. Jenny and Eunice), Manabat family, Mrs. Chavez and family, attendees of our seminars, and many others!
Laguna Information Session
Stacey Belding speaking in Laguna
The evening of July 25th we presented another free information session about Canadian immigration in Laguna, at the St. Vincent Colleges of Cabuyao Inc . The event was hosted by St. Vincent’s as well as Tristone Consulting, a marketing company assisting us with the promotion of our general immigration services in Laguna and Manila.
We were joined by Golden Miles Placement, Promotion and Manning Agency, our POEA licenced jobCan affiliate that assists us with worker recruitment in the Philippines.
We spoke to a group of approximately 300+ people and we thank the Chavez family for promoting and organizing the event, as well as providing the venue.
See more pics from the event: Canada information session – Laguna
Back in Manila
The morning of July 25th, we met with a representative of prominent national company to discuss their plans to establish a school to train tradespeople for deployment in Canada as well jobs locally. We will be assisting them with the identification of high demand occupations in Canada as well as the coordination of provincial and red seal apprenticeship organizations and other stakeholders, to help ensure that the curriculum is consistent with Canadian education standards.
We had lunch at Fely J’s, arguably the best restaurant in the Philippines, at the invitation of master craftsman Osmundo ‘Omeng’ Esguerra, antiquaire and furnituremaker to Philippine high society and owner of the Osmundo Gallery. We were graciously hosted by Edith Esguerra at one of Osmundo’s homes for much of our stay in Manila, and we are most grateful for her assistance and hospitality.
Baguio Information Session
On July 23rd, we travelled to the beautiful mountain city of Baguio to present another free Canadian immigration information session, this time hosted by TEAMS, an international marketing company with whom we are planning an affiliation. The session was attended by approximately 300-400 people; with many more being turned away. The national television station ABS-CBN was in attendance to report on the event.
We are very grateful to Ms. Neliza Navales (Quezon), the President of TEAMS, as well as TEAMS members and executive including Atty. Imelda Macadangdang and Atty. Anita M. Chauhan (also a noted academic and a Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines), for organizing, hosting, and chairing the event. We are also grateful to Atty. Imelda who hosted us at her beautiful home in Baguio City during our stay.
On July 24th we remained in Baguio for additional meetings and a brief trip to a local weaving/handicraft factory (thank-you Manuel Te-em), before traveling back to Manila that evening.
Pics and video to be posted soon!
Guimba, Nueva Ecija information session, and Radyo Natin – Guimba
On the morning of July 22nd Radyo Natin Guimba interviewed us about Canadian immigration and foreign recruitment. We were joined by the Hon. Consul General of the Philippines in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mrs. Edda Pangilinan.
Listen to the full interview here.
On the afternoon of July 22nd, we spoke about Canadian immigration to a group of over 1000 attendees at the municipal auditorium in Guimba. We were joined by the Hon. Consul General, Mrs. Edda Pangilinan, who gave an inspirational talk to the audience. Our emcees for the event were Ms. Clariza M. de Guzman of Radyo Natin Guimba and Ms. Fe Senosa, Head of PESO Guimba. We were surprised to learn that people traveled from as far as Manila to attend the free event, and that classes were canceled because teachers in the area were in attendance!
We are most grateful to the office of the mayor of Guimba as well as Radyo Natin Guimba, particularly Gie Herrera, who organized and promoted the event. The event was also promoted by articles in Abante Tonite and People’s Tonite (thank-you Ms. Susan Isorena-Arcega).
Radyo Batin-Guimba’s articles in Tagalog (including great pics):
jobCan information session dinagsa ng mga nagnanais na magtrabaho sa Canada
Opisyal ng JobCan at Konsulada sa Manitoba, Canada, Dumating sa Guimba
See Radyo Natin – Guimba’s gallery of pics from our visit.
Check out Radyo Natin’s video excerpts from the interview and information session.
More pics to be posted soon, along with video from the event – stay tuned!
Meeting with Canadian Embassy, and off to Guimba in Nueva Ecija
On July 21, we met with the acting director of the visa and immigration section of the Canadian embassy in Manila, Mr. Georges Boisse. Many thanks to Mr. Boisse and his staff for accommodating us.
We departed for Guimba that afternoon to prepare for our seminar the following day. That evening we met with representatives of Radyo Natin Guimba, 105.3 fm, the local radio station who hosted and promoted our information session in cooperation with the Mayor of Guimba, Hon. Boyito M. Dizon.
Pampanga Information Session
On July 18th we travelled to Pampanga with the Hon. Consul General of the Philippines in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mrs. Edda Pangilinan and the MLA for Minnedosa, Manitoba, Ms. Leanne Rowat.
The Mayor of Magalang, Pampanga and his council members hosted our group, and treated us to lunch and a tour of the area. We visited the beautiful Abe’s farm and resort (definitely a stop on our trip next year), as well as a drug rehabilitation centre and a facility housing/assisting abused children and women.
We spoke about Canadian immigration and related issues to a group of approximately 2000 people in the municipal gymnasium.
The local media, Sun Star of Pampanga, covered the visit. We returned to Manila late that evening. Thanks very much to the Manabat family for the warm welcome!
Between July 19th-20th we had several meetings with prospective immigrants and others.
We are in the process of uploading our pics soon – stay posted!
Bata Bata, and Canadian Ambassador
Between July 16-17th we had several meetings in the Manila area, including a memorable visit with the children of Bata Bata. Bata Bata is a charitable organization supporting some of the neediest children in the Philippines, founded by Johnny Andrade. I will be assisting with the establishment of a charitable sister organization in Canada intended to provide funding to support Bata Bata’s children.
We also had the pleasure of meeting with the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr. Robert Desjardins, along with the Hon. Consul General of the Philippines in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mrs. Edda Pangilinan, and the MLA for Minnedosa, Manitoba, Ms. Leanne Rowat.
Manila Information Session II
The evening of July 15th we conducted a free Canadian immigration information session in Trafalgar Place to a group of approximately 50 attendees. We are grateful to Andrew Jones and Lulette Portuguez of Retac Asia for arranging the venue on short notice. We also thank Gloria Joaquin for organizing attendance and for her additional assistance throughout.
After our seminar we met with our local PR and media consultants, Ms. Susan Isorena-Arcega of Manila Broadcasting Company and an independent consultant, and Mr. Edgar Tolentino, a media consultant. We are grateful to be working with such experienced and talented advisors, and we thank them for their assistance to date.
Meetings
On July 15, we attended several meetings, including one with Mrs. “Mama” Teh, who is a prominent businesswoman and President of Eastgate Foundation, which provides educational opportunities and livelihood programs, as well as medical missions and feeding programs, to needy children and adults. Watch a video about their important work.
About
Stacey Belding (middle) is a Canadian immigration lawyer with Carroll Fisher Belding in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the Managing Director of jobCan, International Recruiters for Canadian Businesses. Fely Silvestre (right) assists with recruitment from the Philippines and serves as a settlement ambassador for jobCan recruits. Stacey and Fely are blogging about their 2008 Philippine tour conducting free information sessions about Canadian immigration. Many thanks to Gloria Joaquin (left) for her tremendous assistance during our visit.
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