Overseas Filipinos to meet in Manila
All airline flights will lead to the Philippines in December when Filipinos from all over the world are expected to come home for one of their biggest gatherings in recent years.
The International Network of Filipinos Overseas, a confederacy of Filipinos based abroad, will be holding “INFO 2000: Tipanan sa Maynila” which aims to foster creative and effective collaboration in response to the challenges of the new millennium.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo L. Siazon Jr., in a letter addressed to Philippine embassies and consular offices throughout the world, said the conference will provide overseas Filipinos an exchange of ideas in terms of fostering stronger ties with other Filipino communities abroad.
INFO 2000, which will be held in Manila Hotel on December 15-16, is being organizes to help build a bridge of cooperation, and to create partnership between the government, private businesses and NGOs or non-profit organizations.
The conference will work along the line of harnessing the power of Filipinos overseas in the 21st century through partnerships in development projects and extension of assistance to the marginalized sectors of the Philippine society.
It will revolve around three major plenary topics that include migration realities, governance and law-making, and collaborative actions.
Filipinos represent one of the biggest expatriate communities around the world, making the conference even more vital to address their needs and concerns.
INFO was first convened in Manila in 1991 by Filipino community leaders whose outstanding contributions to development efforts in the Philippines and in promoting the well-being of the Filipino communities overseas were cited by then President Corazon C. Aquino and the late Senator Raul Manglapus.
INFO is a global confederacy of overseas Filipinos working together to establish and maintain linkages and to undertake collaborative efforts with their home country for a common vision and mission.
Mr. Siazon said Tipanan sa Maynila will promote networking among Filipino community leaders overseas so that they may collectively engage in productive endeavors to benefit the Philippines. (Aldwin R. Fajardo)
