27 May 2025, Singapore – The Philippine Embassy in Singapore held its third Ugnayan: Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting for the year on Sunday, 25 May 2025, once again bringing together over 50 leaders and representatives of various Filipino community organizations for a briefing and dialogue on recent developments affecting Filipinos in Singapore.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Medardo G. Macaraig expressed appreciation to the Filipino community for their active participation in the historic first online overseas voting, which concluded on 12 May 2025. He also encouraged the community to support local Filipino businesses, including Filipino-owned shops, food vendors, and entrepreneurs, in line with the celebration of National Heritage Month. 

Ambassador Macaraig likewise shared insights on recent developments in Singapore, noting that while a political transition is underway under newly-sworn Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, no major policy changes are expected, as key leaders in agencies such as the Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Foreign Affairs remain in place. He added that the Philippines looks forward to the first official visit by Prime Minister Wong soon.

Providing key Embassy updates, First Secretary and Consul Joyleen E. Santos shared the outcomes of the overseas voting and highlighted good practices that contributed to the successful and efficient conduct of the month-long process. She likewise expressed gratitude to Filipino community leaders who supported outreach and voter education efforts throughout the period.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Joy Anne B. Lai presented the latest developments on the construction of the Chancery at Nassim Road, which is set to be completed before the fourth quarter of 2025. She noted that the project, the largest construction project of the Department of Foreign Affairs in recent years, will feature enhanced consular facilities and function spaces to better serve the growing Filipino community in Singapore.

Newly-arrived Assistant Labor Attaché Agnes L. Pabalan of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO)-Singapore introduced herself to the community and outlined improvements in the contract verification process, which seek to reduce processing time and improve accessibility for OFWs in Singapore. Updates from OWWA and Pag-IBIG were also shared, particularly regarding membership services, financial programs, and welfare initiatives available to Filipinos in the city-state.

The Embassy’s Cultural and Filipino Community Relations Sections, led by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Renee Gayle M. Chua, also provided a rundown of upcoming cultural programs and Filipino community-led activities, including concerts and collaborative initiatives that celebrate Filipino heritage and support community empowerment. As part of the Ugnayan’s inclusive format, community organizations were given the opportunity to present their upcoming initiatives, which included the BNG Run (08 June), Isang Bangkang Malaya (29 June), and the much-awaited 2025 Fiesta ng Pamilyang Pilipino (17 August). 

For further information on Embassy programs and community activities, follow the Embassy’s official Facebook page or visit the Embassy website at www.philippine-embassy.sg.org. /END