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2024-10-04
Two batches of RA 9225 applicants in Winnipeg took their oath allegiance for the retention/reacquisition of Philippine citizenship before Consul Katrina Isabelle Borja-Martin. They were encouraged to register for overseas voting, to apply for new PH passports, and to report significant events in their families, including births and marriages.
30 September 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto conducted its third consular outreach mission to Winnipeg, Manitoba this year on 29-30 September. The two-day outreach was held at the Holiday Inn Express Winnipeg Airport – Polo Park, in partnership with Philippine Consul ad honorem in Winnipeg, Ronaldo Opina.
The outreach team provided a range of consular services to members of the Winnipeg community, as well as neighboring towns and cities in Manitoba including Brandon, Neepawa, and Steinbach, and even Newfoundland, who have difficulty coming to the Consulate in Toronto because of the sheer distance, restrictive schedules, or mobility issues. These services include passport renewals, notarial services, civil registration submissions, and dual citizenship applications.
The consular team rendered a total of 735 consular services, including 125 Overseas Voter (OV) registration requests on the last two days of OV registration. Ninety-nine (99) former Filipinos took their oath of allegiance to retain/reacquire their Filipino citizenship under Republic Act 9225.
The team, led by Consul Katrina Isabelle Borja-Martin, briefed the clients on the consular services provided by the Consulate, particularly on civil registration, as many are not familiar with the need to register with Philippine Foreign Service Posts births and marriages in Canada involving Filipinos. The briefing comes on the eve of the 35th National Statistics Month, which is celebrated every October.
Outreach clients were likewise informed about forthcoming events, including the 2025 Philippine elections and the ninth edition of the Winter Escapade on 9-18 February 2025, highlighting the theme “True North Goes North”.
The Philippine Consulate General will hold its fourth and final outreach to Winnipeg, Manitoba for 2024 in November. Other outreach missions are also scheduled for St. Catharines, Ontario on 19 October and Thunder Bay, Ontario on 23-24 November. These missions are part of the Consulate’s continuing efforts to bring its services closer to Filipino communities in Ontario and Manitoba.
Left photo: Clients availing of passport, notarial and civil registration services during the outreach mission
Right photo: Eligible Filipinos in Winnipeg registering for overseas voting on the last two days of OV registration