Philippine Consul pays Sandakan Diocesan Head a courtesy call

SANDAKAN – Philippine Consul John Francis Herrera paid a courtesy call on Bishop Julius Gitom on 10 Feb 2017 at his office at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre here.

He was joined by Eva Siruno, Director of Family Life, Josephine del Rosario, Chairlady of the Filipino Pastoral Community (FPC) and FPC members Elizabeth de Guzman, Expedito Rosales and Lydia Rosales.

During the courtesy call, Consul Francis thanked Bishop Julius for the opportunity to meet him and informed him about the Philippine Embassy’s consular mission in Sandakan, Feb 7-17.

The Consul also updated Bishop Julius on the case of two Filipinas who recently sought treatment at the Duchess of Kent Hospital and were referred to the Philippine Embassy by their families and friends for further assistance.

The Consul also informed the bishop that the embassy was earlier given an invitation to send a speaker to the AMOS-3 Programme, which is organised by the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, in collaboration with the dioceses of Sandakan and Keningau, on the topic “Migrating Safely, Legally and with Dignity”. The migration programme has been set for Sep 21-23 in Sandakan

A dinner with “kababayans” (a Filipino word meaning fellow countrymen) was hosted later in the evening at Keranamu Restaurant by the Hon Philippine Ambassador J Eduardo Malaya. Josephine Del Rosario and Elizabeth de Guzman received tokens of appreciation from Ambassador Malaya for their efforts in assisting distressed Filipinos in Sandakan.- Evelyn Siruno