Filipino News 161 July 2022

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BUHAY NZ 04 ISSUE 161 MAGANDANG BALITA | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz | MOB: 027 495 8477 www.filipinonews.nz : North Island Edition - 22nd Anniversary | www.pinoynzlife.nz : South Island Edition. Print and Online! Every six years in Philippine embassies around the world a new ambassador routinely replaces the incumbent who is stationed there. In April 2016 the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila announced that a seasoned career diplomat who had an illustrious career serving in the UN was being posted to New Zealand. The high-power appointee was Jesus “Gary” Domingo, who has been with the DFA for over 32 years and was decorated by the President of the Philippines for his role in coordinating international humanitarian assistance for Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, promoting disaster risk reduction and management cooperation and directing Philippine UN Peace-keeping deployments. To get an inkling of the man who was to reshape the traditional role of an ambassador, here is an endorsement from his friend, Gerardo 'Gerry' V. Eusebio, a Lecturer of Politics at De La Salle University. “I have known Gary for more than 20 years. He was a student then at the ‘Out-ofthe-box’ Diplomat. University of the Philippines. Even as a student Gary was keen on his grasp of international and national affairs. His sense of history was likewise exceptional. “When I left QC to transfer elsewhere, I heard that Gary topped the Foreign photo credit: Ayesha Ronquillo Service Officers Exam and I was not even surprised. Later on, I heard that he was posted in New York as consul and then to Saudi Arabia where he worked harder, ensuring the welfare of our OFWs. “We finally met in the By Mel Fernandez & Queenie Lee Tanjay early years of the 21st century when he was the director of UNIO at the home office, a high position considering his age. “To sum up, let me just say that we are lucky to have a public servant as patriotic, pragmatic and 'out-of-the-box' as him, to say the least.” According to community leaders we polled, Amba Gary will be remembered as an 'Ambassador ng masa’ - a people’s ambassador. He is not perceived as a pen pusher stuck to a desk in the Embassy, because he has endeavoured to travel the length and breadth of New Zealand periodically to meet as many Filipinos as he was able to. Sadly, all too soon Ambassador Gary’s term of office came to an end on June 30th, 2022. During his tenure, 'Amba Gary' (as he is affectionately called) transcended his fortitude with multilateral relations and humanitarian services through various proactive programs championing migrant rights and welfare. When asked by Mel Libre, the editor of the BAYANIZ blog page, as to what he counted as his most important accomplishments, he listed the following: a) Opening a Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in Wellington b) Establishing the Volunteer Ambassador Program (VAMBA) – a framework for empowering overseas Filipinos in NZ c) Establishing Youth Ambassador (YAMBA) programs in numerous NZ Colleges with Philippine High School Partners d) Managing the COVID- 19 crisis – assisting Filipinos in need and running repatriation flights e) Combating exploitative immigration advisers and education agents As a diplomat at the time when global statecraft was challenged by a health crisis, Amba Gary arduously mobilized programs to help our kababayans endure financial and social challenges. He regularly engaged through social media and online platforms, making sure that every need is always seen to, from health to labour, immigration and repatriation concerns. As a staunch advocate of migrant rights himself, Amba Gary is remembered for his clamour to the NZ government to delve into the exploitation of Filipino students aspiring to a better life here. Amba Gary pushed for stringent codes of practice to be adhered to by agencies and institutions in order for international students to be “wellinformed, safe, and properly cared for”. Aligned to this is his assignment as a 'White Ribbon NZ' Ambassador in 2018 under the campaign’s aim to end Violence Against Women (VAW) and to include men in the narrative of promoting healthier relationships. The persona he built from his fervour for Filipino culture and public service while also being pragmatic is truly worth emanating for the next generations. All of his contributions give him the rightful regard to be called 'Ambassador of the Masses', capping an illustrious career here in New Zealand. Whoever will take over his position has big shoes to fill. TIMARU – If there was any schedule-squeezing to be done in order to meet a new heavyweight of the New Zealand Pinoy community, it was on that day in January 2016 to be sure. I was lucky to be given an audience by newly confirmed Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus Gary Domingo, but I had to juggle my own time and availability. By coincidence, at the time I was vacationing in the Philippines to visit family and friends and had a chance for this breakfast meeting with our new Ambassador, who traditionally not only represents our country in New Zealand, but is also the symbolic head of the 90,000 strong Pinoy community in New Zealand, one of the largest ethnic groups in this tiny but overachieving 1st World nation. My advantage was that I knew what the ambassador looked like, from his pictures at the Commission on Appointments, but unless he stalked my Facebook page, he wasn’t in a similar position. First Impressions I saw him as a bit of By Noel Bautista everything: a semi-Spanish mestizo, but unmistakeably Southeast Asian in aura; cutting a scholarly pose the minute he walked into Pancake House. He didn’t have the most athletic, chiselled body (nor did I expect him to), but neither was he a wimp. Ironically, though he’d never stepped on NZ shores, he had the prototypical rugby body. I’d later learn he’d done a season or two playing high school American football. He had clear ideas on the future of Filipino diplomacy, if he had anything to do with it: use indigenous elements of Pinoy culture, mix them up with what works (and what nearly works) in the history of our dealings with state actors and the family of nations and never stop evolving. He believed and continues A peronal glimpse: Amba Gary Domingo to believe that every Filipino is a potential ambassador, so that overseas and in the global setting we do better and in fact excel. Paraphrasing his thoughts, the Ambassador articulates his Pinoys as suns catchphrase whenever and wherever: A thousand suns shining in unison would not have the same dramatic effect as individual suns shining on their own, comparing the suns to the cleverness and ability of Filipinos alongside their overseas counterparts, with the bottom line being we shine best not with our own, but when we’re with others. For this reason, Amba Gary, as he likes to be called by kabayan, would like our embassies throughout the world to make good use of the OFW and migrant communities to literally sell and promote Filipino interests. Governments and the diplomatic staff, no matter how inspired, won’t be enough to tell others how to best uncover and reveal the best the Philippines can offer. Half a lifetime over one coffee Why can’t we find new ways of bonding and uniting the Pinoy community? Amba Gary is fond of saying. For sure, basketball, sportsfestsand socio-religious and fiesta-like events will always be crowd favourites, but what’s wrong with cultural activities, short-story writing contests and even Filipiniana inspired fashion shows? It doesn’t need to be any particular activity, as long as it promotes the best in all of us. And all this Amba Gary told me over one coffee. It might as well have been barako. It was that one coffee (and Pancake House brunch) over which I had my first conversation with AmbaGary, but it might as well have been half a lifetime. His early life as a diplomat’s kid, earning his first battle scars in the Middle East and negotiating over treaties and statements at the UN in New York. He had enough experiences to fill half his memoirs and he had so much more to do with the rest of his career. Yes, serving as the Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga was just the first of many milestones for Amba Gary. But he leaves unfinished many ambitions for the Pinoy community in New Zealand. First of which is the manifestation of his belief that our community can be that which shines brightest in every sense of the word. We have the tradesmen, entrepreneurs, academics and especially those who pursue their vocations with passion. We have all the tools to make the most significant migrant contribution to Aotearoa and though he doesn’t think it can be done this generation, who knows what the next can do? Second of which is his belief that our community, for all its events, traditions and organizations, is not networked enough. A comprehensive and of course online effort to interconnect each and every Filipino is not only a noble cause, but an essential one, if we are to stand out, as we are meant to stand out, as a community. The third of all is personal to him, but to have ethnic Filipinos in the highest offices of the land would be something he would, as a public servant, be truly proud of. We are gifted in the sense of being great writers, orators and communicators and to translate this into having not just a bit part but a major role for Filipinos in achieving the dream of a better life for all Kiwis would be very worthwhile for one of the most memorable Ambassadors we’ve had, Amba Gary. Now, if we could only have him for a second time around the block? Noel Bautista is the Filipino-Kiwi Blogger of the Year 2021
migrantnews.nz 32 YEARS • NZ’s first Multicultural Newspaper • migrantnews@xtra.co.nz | mob: 027 495 8477 O N L I N E E D I T I O N . A n d a s a p u l l - o u t i n a l l o u r F i l i p i n o n e w s p a p e r s . F R E E Circulation The one and only Filipino Job Board www.trabaho.nz Employers - list your jobs here at very affordable rates! Job-seekers, check out our job listings. mob: 027 495 9477 (above:) Guests at launch of Ministry for Ethnic Communities in Auckland. Extreme left: Sheila Mariano and Sir Oscar Batucan. Ethnic ministry marks momentous milestone By Mel Fernandez migrantnews.nz WELLINGTON – For some time now ethnic communities, who make up nearly 20 percent of the population, have been lobbying for the establishment of a Ministry for Ethnic Communities that could influence government policy and improve the wellbeing outcomes for their communities. Eventually, in December 2020 the government committed to set up a ministry as a response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on a Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019. On 1st July last year the ministry was up and running. At a launch event for community leaders in Auckland Migrant News spoke with guests about their expectations of the ministry. Taz Mukorombindo, Chair, NZ Business Association: “I think it is a momentous occasion and one of the world firsts as an ethnic ministry, which is great. “I have always advocated business, business, business, business. Yes, people need jobs and a lot of migrants are in business and if we don’t put that on the agenda it will leave a big gap in the strategy and values and mission of the ministry. I can understand that it might not be something that the ministry might see, but I see that policy, advocacy, funding and training are all doables.” Satya Dutt, President and Trustee, Hindi Language and Culture Trust of NZ: “It is important to have this ministry as we have over 200 languages and 160 different cultures here. “So it is very important to have a ministry that looks at the interests of all these organizations and communities in order to get connected with them.” Fairiah: “I think that the launch of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities is is a timely thing, because there are a lot of us here in New Zealand now and so far we’ve not been fully represented. So this gives the government an opportunity to hear our collective voices.” “The creation of the Ministry means that ethnic communities finally have a Chief Executive whose sole focus is representing their concerns and aspirations at the top tables of the public service. This brings the voices of these diverse communities and their lived experiences to the fore of decision-making processes,” says the Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan. “Led by Chief Executive Mervin Singham, the Ministry has focused on areas that ethnic communities told us were important. These include employment, government services that are responsive to the needs of ethnic communities, financial support for community initiatives and the response to COVID-19. “The Ministry established a Graduate Programme that has placed skilled graduates from ethnic communities in policy roles across government agencies. This has provided them with a meaningful first employment opportunity and enhanced diversity in policy making and in the design of government services. “I am committed to improving ethnic representation on public sector boards. The Ministry’s Nominations Service maintains a database of qualified, ethnically diverse people who are seeking an appointment to a public sector board. “The Ministry is now working with other partners such as the Super Diversity Institute and Leadership NZ to expand this pool of ethnic nominees and to help us create a sustainable pipeline of diverse governance candidates for appointment to state sector boards. “Following a substantial increase in funding, in the year to date, the Ethnic Communities Development Fund has disbursed $4.2 million in support of 310 community projects and initiatives that helped celebrate different cultures and strengthened social cohesion. “The Ministry’s work to support the government’s response to COVID-19 included working with the Ministry of Health to implement a vaccine rollout for and led by ethnic communities. This included supporting communities with translated material, running a series of community hui and com- Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan missioning a media campaign in ten languages. In addition, the Ministry administered $4 million in funding for community initiatives to support efforts to increase vaccination within their communities. “The Ministry has had a successful first year and this is just the beginning. There is a lot more to do. This Government wants to create a more cohesive Aotearoa New Zealand where everyone feels safe, valued, heard and can participate fully,” says Priyanca Radhakrishnan. “The work of the Ministry will help take us there.” • Promoting the value of diversity and improving the inclusion of ethnic communities in wider society • Ensuring government services are accessible for ethnic communities • Improving economic outcomes for ethnic communities, including addressing barriers to employment • Connecting and empowering ethnic community group
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Filipino News 161 July 2022

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