Singapore – On 23 May 2021, one week after the implementation of public health measures under Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) in Singapore, the Philippine Embassy held its second virtual Ugnayan with Filipino Community (FilCom) leaders and members.

Aside from updating the FilCom on the programs and accomplishments of the Embassy, the 2nd Ugnayan also included a multi-faith prayer offering which was conducted by religious leaders  Fr. Romeo Yu Chang of the Church of St. Teresa, Pastor Sherwin E. Reyes of Immanuel Fellowship Singapore, and Brother Muhammad Yusuf Ali Bin Abdullah of Darul Arqam Muslim Converts Association Singapore. The UST Singers Alumni led the opening of the multi-faith prayer offering through their rendition of the song “Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika.”

In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph del Mar Yap reported that the Embassy handled a total of 56,918 consular transactions for the first five months of the year which is close to the transactions handled by the Embassy for the same period before the COVID-19 pandemic. The various sections of the Embassy and the attached agencies also took turns in reporting their accomplishments to the community.

Ambassador Yap appealed to the Filipino community to strictly follow the heightened restrictions and protocols that the Singapore Government has rolled out.  He also announced that the Embassy’s labor and consular services will continue even during the heightened alert phase which will last until the 13th of June. 

The two-hour long virtual meeting was streamed live on Facebook and was attended by 62 FilCom leaders on Zoom. It has so far been viewed 1,300 times through the Embassy’s official Facebook page. Based on the Embassy’s estimates, around 200,000 Filipinos live and work in Singapore. -END-