Originally scheduled to be a 2-day, 24-hour consular services outreach program to facilitate Philippine ePassport renewals and applications turned into a 3-day, 56-hour marathon for the 7-person consular services team from Toronto.
Upon arriving in Winnipeg, the consular services team lead by newly installed Consulate General Pedro Chan had one clear mandate – process as many people as possible. Their work started a full day ahead of schedule on Friday afternoon, lasting until 2am early Saturday morning. ConGen Chan officially opened the outreach program during an interview by CKJS 810 Radio’s Afternoon Pasada host, Lucille Nolasco and invited those wishing to avail of consular services to make their way to Canad Inns Garden City.
Overwhelming crowds on Saturday morning started as early as 4am. By 8am, the hotel lobby leading into the consular services area was full and would remain full until early 5am Sunday morning before calling it a 21-hour day.
Going on no less than 2 hours of sleep, the consular team and dedicated community volunteers were ready to take on the challenges for what was to be the third and final day. Little did anyone know that it would be the longest – 23 hours to be exact, starting at 8am and ending at 7am, early Monday morning. Due to the large crowds rolling over from Saturday, the processing area was moved to the Ambassador Ballroom.
Amidst the large crowds, long wait times throughout the weekend, everyone was upbeat, patient and cooperative. To a crowd of about 250 people, early Monday morning, disappointment, frustration and anger erupted after it was announced that the last 100 applicants left in the cue would be serviced by consular staff.
By 7am, the final ePassport applicant had waited well over 20 hours for his passport renewal and left in good spirits. Somewhat satisfied that the consular outreach program offered in Winnipeg, saved him money as he would have had to travel to Toronto.
Does Winnipeg need a full-time consular office? After several consular outreach programs offered in Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the last 12 months, one would seem to think so. Based on the sheer amount of people during the outreach weekend, Con Gen Chan also seems to think there’s a need. Currently in Manila, ConGen Chan is expected to petition the Department of Foreign Affairs to research, evaluate and consider re-opening a Philippine Consulate in Winnipeg, after closing in 1985. Just don’t hold your breath as it might take a while. Establishing a diplomatic post takes time and money. In the meantime, we can only expect a new honourary consul to be named and entrust in that individual to represent the Philippine residents in Manitoba.
After three days and 56 hours of non-stop work, more ePassport renewals and applications were processed than originally anticipated. Thus saving many hundreds of families from having to fly to Toronto to process “in-person” ePassport applications and renewals. Over two dozen people reclaimed their Philippine citizenship as dual Philippine-Canadian citizens during a Saturday mid-afternoon oath taking presided by Consulate General Chan. Over a hundred Special Powers of Attorney (SPA) were issued and the lives of those individuals can now move forward from a legal standpoint.
The consular outreach team worked twice as hard, twice as long. Every single volunteer gave twice as much of their time and energy. The weekend could not have been a success without the dedicated support and passion of the volunteers that made themselves available at Canad Inns Garden City to help assist the consular team and their fellow kababayans through a long and grueling weekend.
Will the Philippine Consulate (Toronto) be back in Winnipeg? Yes. We hope it will be sooner than later. There are similar requests for repeat outreach programs in Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. The need is there and that fact has not been lost with Consulate General Chan and the consular team in Toronto. The Filipino Journal will continue to work with the Consulate General (Toronto) in preparation for their next visit to Winnipeg.
