The Philippine Embassy recently concluded its inaugural Consular Outreach Mission for 2023, with more than a third of Ecuador’s Filipino Community members in attendance for passport services, overseas voter registration and dialogues with the Philippine Embassy personnel in separate occasions in Quito and Guayaquil.
The Consular Mission was headed by Consul General Jim B. San Agustin and included Ms. Vanessa Arevalo and Mr. Brian Bustamante. The event was organized with the Philippine Consulate in Guayaquil headed by Mrs. Corazon Oliva Reyes, Philippine Honorary Consul to Ecuador.
The resumption of registration of qualified overseas Filipinos for purposes of the 2025 National Elections commenced in December 2022. All citizens of the Philippines who are abroad or will be abroad during the thirty (30) day voting period, are at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the next elections and are not otherwise disqualified by law, may register.
During his dialogue with the Filipino Community in two separate occasions in Quito and Guayaquil, Charge d’Affaires, a.i. and Consul General San Agustin encouraged all eligible Filipinos in Ecuador to register for the upcoming elections. He also explained that aside from the provision of consular services, the Embassy wanted to touch base with the growing Filipino Community in Ecuador, which is now estimated to have up to 115 members.
He reminded them to be vigilant in view of the precarious peace and order and political situation in Ecuador that has seen an increase in violent mass demonstrations against the government, and crimes related to drug syndicates operating in South America. He also expressed appreciation to Consul Reyes, who for the past 21 years has ably provided consular and Assistance to Nationals (ATN) services to Filipinos residing in Ecuador, and for being an excellent conduit between the Filipino Community and the Embassy.
The Mission also afforded the Embassy the opportunity to visit two successful restaurants owned by Filipinos, namely the Kusina Filipina in Quito owned and managed by Ms. Kim Margallo Asis, and the Saitama Sushi Bar in Guayaquil owned and managed by Ms. Agnes Raflores Rico. The Team highlighted the invaluable contributions of both restaurants in promoting Philippine culture and fomenting goodwill between Ecuador and the Philippines, and as shining examples of the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit in the global setting.
The consular team attending to passport applicants and overseas voting registrants
Consul General Jim San Agustin holds a dialogue with the Filipino Community on Overseas Voter Registration,
the Embassy’s consular services, citizenship reacquisition, and the general wellbeing of Filipinos in Ecuador.
