Page 48 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June

48 January to June
2017

Human Services Day Event Held at Philippine Center New York

The Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI)
in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General held a
Human Services Day on March 25, 2017 at the Kalayaan Hall
of the Philippine Center in New York. FAHSI is a non-stock,
non-profit organization dedicated to improving the social
conditions and enhancing the self-reliance of Filipinos and
Filipino-Americans in New York City

The day-long event featured two panels composed of

resource persons from different Human Services agencies

and organizations catering to underserved and

underrepresented sectors in New York.

The event also featured guest speaker Fran Barrett, L-R 1st row FAHSI Board Members Aleli Alvarez, Emerson Ea, Cora Custodio,
InterAgency Coordinator for Not-for-Profit Services of the Consul General Theresa Dizon – De Vega, FAHSI Board members Jaena Valles, Dr.
Jean Lobell, Board Secretary Laura Lopez; 2nd Row Panelists Jo-Ann Yoo of the
Office of the New York Governor, who spoke of New York Asian American Federation, Peter Gee of University Settlement, Mark Libatique of
State support for non-profits and their contribution to providing New York Immigration Coalition, Therese Rodriguez of APICHA, Marian Guerra of
guest New American Leaders Project, FAHSI Board Member Atty. Reuben Seguritan,
a wider range of services to the public. Another
speaker, Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of the Asian FAHSI Vice Chair Joseph Barretto, FAHSI Chair Zultan Bermudez

American Federation, spoke about the state of research on

the social conditions of Asian-Americans and Filipino-Americans on a wide range of human services issues.

The panelists responded to questions from attendees on how to access free Human Services as well as volunteering
to take part in the different initiatives of the resource organizations.

Atty. Reuben Seguritan and Dr. Jean Lobell, Board members of FAHSI, spoke of the organization’s continued
commitment to ensuring that the underserved sectors in the community such as the elderly, victims of domestic violence,
youth, LGBTQ community, human trafficking victims, and undocumented migrants have access to available services.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega acknowledged the work being undertaking by FAHSI and spoke of the
importance of reaching out to underserved and underrepresented sectors, engendering a spirit of volunteerism in the
community, and working together to realize a more just and humane society in keeping with the global sustainable

development goals.

Mariners’ Day Event at the Philippine Center, New York

In observance of the US Maritime Day, the Philippine
Consulate General in New York hosted on 22 May 2017 a
“Mariners’ Day Forum” at the Philippine Center with the
Seamen’s Church Institute of the Port of New York and New
Jersey.

A briefing was conducted by Mr. Stephen Lyman,

Director of International Seafarers’ Center of The Seamen’s

Church Institute (SCI); Rev. James Kollin, the Filipino Chaplain of

SCI; and Ms. Naomi Walker, also of SCI. The event was

attended by the officers and staff of the Consulate and the Fil-Am

Director Lyman’s briefing on SCI’s functions & advocacies. community leaders in New York and New Jersey.

According to Director Lyman, Maritime Day is a day to

pay special tribute to the merchant mariners and to the benefits that the maritime industry provides to the country. On law

and advocacy, Director Lyman mentioned that, over the years, SCI has helped pass important pieces of legislation to ensure

safety in the maritime workplace and the fair treatment of mariners. SCI also provides legal counselling, assistance and

referrals to mariners and to seafarers’ welfare agencies around the globe. On maritime education, SCI has empowered

mariners with valuable training and it continues to train mariners at its specialized Center for Maritime Education.

On pastoral care, Rev. Kollin explained SCI’s role in providing the mariner a place to feel at home aware that life at
sea has always been challenging in ways unknown to land-dwellers, and all intensified by long separation from family and
friends.