Filipino community in Colombia gather together to meet PH Ambassador

The Filipino community in Colombia met non-resident Philippine Ambassador to Colombia, H.E. Marichu Mauro on Sunday, 8 June 2018 at the Philippine Consulate in Bogota.

More than 30 Filipinos led by Philippine Honorary Consul Consuelo Acosta gathered together to welcome Ambassador Mauro. 

Ambassador Mauro gave a brief address to all the Filipinos in attendance. She announced to them the plans of the Philippine government to establish an embassy in Bogota in the near future - news that was met with great approval of all. She also thanked outgoing Honorary Consul Acosta for her valuable service to the Philippines and the Filipino community in Colombia. 

Around 140 Filipinos are estimated to be living and working in Colombia. Despite their small number, Filipinos are highly regarded by Colombian society, because of their honesty, good work ethics, and industry. 

The majority of Filipinos in Colombia are residents while a sizeable number are gainfully employed as engineers and support technicians in multinational companies like Nokia. A good number work in the education sector. The remainder belong to religious missionaries while some are self-employed.

Ambassador Mauro, who is in Bogota to present her credentials to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, took the opportunity to check on the well-being of Filipinos living and working in Colombia and to hear their concerns if any. Ambassador Mauro assured the Filipinos living in Colombia that their welfare is important to the Philippine Embassy in Brazil.