Foreign-based Pinoys to gather for networking gab

It’s all systems go for the Second Global Filipino Networking Convention, which will be held for the first time in the country, on Dec. 15-18 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The convention is organized by the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC) in partnership with the Washington-based National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA).

"The Global Filipino Convention will be a historic attempt to gather foreign-based Filipinos — whether immigrants, overseas workers, or foreign nationals of Filipino parentage — to give them the chance to be a part of national growth and development while enabling the government to learn how to protect and promote their welfare and interests," said Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon.

Expected to come from Asia, Canada, Europe and the Americas, the participants will engage in two major areas of discussions – the plenary sessions and the sectoral fora.

Plenary Session I will tackle the impact of micro-finance, investment opportunities for overseas Filipinos, leisure and retirement in the Philippines, and the challenges faced by Filipinos abroad.

Plenary Session II will have presentations on centers of activities, elevating the Filipino image through world-class competitions, and linking overseas Filipinos to Philippine cultural heritage.

Plenary Session III will discuss "aero-political issues," the role of physicians in community life, power of the human spirit, and activism in the service of women and children.

The sectoral fora will discuss the economy, youth, social development, health, tourism and media. Each forum will generate resolutions and specific programs of action that will be presented to President Arroyo during the closing session.

The convenors and co-convenors of each forum were designated by the Second Global Convention Task Force in view of the advocacy they present.

The Economic Forum is represented by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and NaFFAA; the Youth Forum by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the National Youth Commission; the Social Development Forum by the Ayala Foundation and the ABS-CBN Foundation; the Health and Medical Forum by the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Nurses Association; the Tourism Forum by the DOT; and the Media Forum by the NaFFAA.

With the theme "Filipino Power for Development! A Homecoming, A Renewal: The Blossoming of Opportunities," the convention aims to promote networking as a powerful tool to unify and empower Filipinos overseas to become a positive force in nation-building.

The 7.6 million overseas Filipinos contribute $6.8 billion to the local economy annually.

The convention is a sequel to the one held last year at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California by the NaFFAA, a private, non-profit, non-partisan and tax-exempt organization established in 1997 to promote the welfare of all Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the United States.

Registration to the Second Global Filipino Convention is ongoing. Fee for overseas Filipinos is $60, covering attendance in all business sessions, a delegate’s kit, conference materials, badge, snacks, entrance to all social events and shuttle service.

Locals can register for P750 to attend all business sessions and get handouts and a badge. For those interested to attend a specific forum, the fee is P400. Students are allowed free entry to the Youth Forum on Dec. 16 only.

For more information, contact the PCVC at 525-9318 to 27, e-mail at [email protected], or register online at www.globalfilipinomeet.com.