The Negros Chronicle -

Commission on Filipinos Overseas schedules Second Global Summit on February 2013

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) announced that it will be holding the 2nd Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City on February 25-27, 2013.

CFO Chairperson Secretary Imelda M. Nicolas made the official briefing in front of a select group of news editors and reporters at the appointed summit venue on November 14, 2012.

“Following the successful first summit in September 2011 in Manila, we expect the February 2013 event to be even bigger; with leaders of the various global Philippine associations in attendance,” said Sec. Nicolas. “Preparations are underway as we speak.”

For the second summit, the CFO has adopted the theme ‘Two Years Thereafter: The Best of the Philippine Diaspora’ in line with its charge to track the progress of the different groups’ diaspora projects since the first summit and in order to identify areas of synergies to enhance these group’s contributions to Philippine development.

A diaspora refers to the movement or migration of people away from their countries of origin, heritage or interest, while maintaining links with their homeland.

Through its flagship program, Diaspora to Development (D2D) the Commission intends to institutionalize and maximize Overseas Filipino involvement in the socio-cultural and economic development of the Philippines through 10 major areas of interventions including skills and technology transfer, arts and culture exchange, educational exchange, business linkaging, diaspora investments, global legal assistance, advocacy, diaspora philanthropy, medical mission coordination, tourism initiatives, and return and reintegration.

With the impetus of the interventions to be shouldered by the hundreds of Overseas Filipinos expected to attend the 2012 D2D, the rallying cry “Balikbayanihan” has been fittingly chosen by event organizers.

The summit also aims to promote networking among Overseas Filipinos in the different regions of the world and accelerate participation of second and third generation Overseas Filipinos in the country’s development. The CFO is the government agency mandated to promote and uphold the interests of overseas Filipinos and to preserve and strengthen ties with Filipino communities overseas.

Among the major sponsors in the upcoming Diaspora to Developmentsummit are the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Retirement Authority, Dusit Thani Hotel, The Medical City, Vibal, ActivAsia, and DDB Philippines.

DDB, one of the largest companies in the Philippine advertising industry, has also been appointed as the official communications partner and marketing arm for the global summit.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Alex Pastor, cell phone no: 0920.968.0241, email: abpastor@ddbphil.com

DDB PR

16/F Two World Square, 22 Upper McKinley Road

McKinley Town Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634, Philippines

Tel. Nos. +632 8567888 local 128/ +632 8569349

For further questions, please contact:

Ma. Nicole Pangilinan, Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO)

Tel. No. 552-4764

Fax No. 561-8332

Email: npangilinan@cfo.gov.ph