May 9 Town Hall Meeting on Philipine Overseas Election Held in Los Angeles

Los Angeles—The first town hall meeting in Historic Filipinotown Los Angeles on the May 14 Philippine overseas voting was held last Wednesday, May 9 at 6;30 PM at the SIPA Multi-Purpose Hall, 3200 W. Temple St.

The Historic Filipinotown hall meeting was attended by the Philippine consulate officials and a modest crowd of Filipino Americans. Consul General May Jo Aragon, Consuls Helen Barber and San Agustin who heads the overseas voting at the Los Angeles consulate. They clarified and answered many questions about overseas voting from the interested multi-ethnic crowd.

Before the dialogue, SIPA’s Executive Director Joel Jacinto gave the welcome remarks. Stella Cervas of the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), Arturo P. Garcia of the Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) and Dr. Annalisa Enrile of Gabriela Network-Los Angeles gave their organizations viewpoints on the coming May 14 elections.

Consul Aragon explained that the PCG is acting as COMELEC deputies for the elections. She also discussed some obstacles for overseas voting like the changes in the overseas voting policies. Over a hundred Filipinos voted out of more than 500 registered voters in Southern California.

One reason she pointed out that turned –off a lot of voters was the execution of an affidavit promising OFW’s return to the Philippines within a years time. Consul Aragon also encouraged Filipino American citizens to re-acquire their Filipino citizenship by applying for dual citizenship.

Gabnet-LA Ivy Guicho acted as the emcee. Prof. Angulo from the University of Southern California (USC) acted as the forum moderator.

The Gabriela Network-LA, SIPA, the AJLPP-USA and the PWC hosted the affair that seeks to inform the Filipino American community on the intricacies of the overseas voting process and the May 14 national elections in the Philippines.

For more information please call Al P. Garcia@(213)241-0906 or email@ epcc_la@hotmail.com

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