The success of Filipino-Kiwi youth in New Zealand is striking. In my first year here, I had the privilege of addressing the outstanding graduates of Marcellin College in Auckland. We hit the “Grand Slam” so to speak – the Dux, Head Boy and Head Girl were all Kiwipinos. So, I awarded them trophies in recognition of their wonderful achievements.

The occasion was the last meeting for the year 2016 for all advisors of the Philippines Community Support Services (PCSS) in Christchurch. Aside from the Ambassador addressing the gathering, Tara Ross of the University of Canterbury, also handed over the result of the UNESCO NZ research project to PCSS that looked into the information gaps of the Filipino migrants in Christchurch.