Ambassador Yano expressing his thanks to the members of the Filipino Community for their whole-hearted support during his term as Philippine envoy to Brunei Darussalam.

The Philippine Embassy reported that a Thanksgiving Mass was held on Sunday, 13 June 2010 at 7:00 a.m. at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (COLA) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam to celebrate the 112th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.

The celebrant for the Thanksgiving Mass, held in the Filipino language, was Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla. In his message to the members of the Filipino Community, H.E. Ambassador Alexander B. Yano paid tribute to the nation's forefathers who had lost their lives for love of country and whose lives have become shining examples of courage, self-sacrifice and devotion to motherland.

Ambassador Yano noted that this year's celebration marking the 112th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence comes at the heels of the successful implementation of country's first automated national and local elections.

In two weeks time, "Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III shall be inaugurated as the republic's 15th President, marking a peaceful transition of power and further boosting confidence in the country's stability and economy," he added.

Ambassador Yano noted the changes implemented in the Embassy during the past few months to better manage resources while responding to the needs of OFWs such as:

1. Revising office hours effective December 2009, by adopting a five-day work week and assigning a duty officer on Saturdays.

2. Implementing a more systematic schedule for releasing documents.

3. Adopting a dress code for all Embassy visitors.

4. Implementing a new set of consular fees effective 17 May 2010 in compliance with a directive from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Yano also informed the Filipino Community that effective Tuesday, 15 June 2010, the Embassy will be accepting e-passport applications that will be compliant with world standards in travel documents.

The construction of the new Chancery, which began last March 2010, is expected to be completed by 2011, he added.

Ambassador Yano stated that the Embassy continues to render assistance to OFWs in labor and police-related cases, and shelter distressed OFWs at the Filipino Workers Resource Center. He also noted that the Embassy continues to offer programs such as skills training and livelihood programs for OFWs, the Filipino language and cultural enrichment program for children of OFWs, and other outreach programs designed to bring the Embassy closer to the Filipino Community.

Members of the Philippine Embassy with representatives from the Filipino Community, and the celebrant for the Thanksgiving Mass, Archbishop Fernando Capalla.

Ambassador expressed the hope that in the tradition of bayanihan, the close partnership between the Philippine Embassy and Filipino Community will continue to flourish and be strengthened in the years to come. Lastly, as he bid farewell to the Filipino Community with the coming end of his tour of duty by 30 June 2010, he also expressed his profound gratitude for the wholehearted support extended to him and to the Philippine Embassy by members of the Filipino Community. END