New Vice Consul eager to serve fellow Pinoys
VALLESPIN
FROM the scorching deserts of Arabia, Alex Vallespin now finds himself among the soaring skyscrapers of Hong Kong.
But an overseas posting is nothing new for Vallespin, the newly-arrived Vice Consul for Cultural and Community Relations at the Philippine Consulate General.
After all, when he was still working for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, he was sent to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for two years as a welfare officer.
This time around, however, Vallespin is bringing his family with him, and he can’t wait to spend the next three years or so with them in the territory while serving the huge Filipino community here.
“I’m bringing with me my family here. My daughter, my eldest, she is 12 years old, is with me now. My wife, and my eight-year-old son, and the private staff will follow in July,” Vallespin, who arrived in the territory on June 16, told Hong Kong News.
He said that his family was only able to visit him in Riyadh two times, for a month and a half each time.
“Hindi sila masyadong pwedeng lumabas. You know how it is in Riyadh. May mga restriction, that’s one,” he said.
The decision to bring the entire family with him to Hong Kong was easy for him as he would need to stay six years for his tour of duty.
“I told them ‘it will be six years sa overseas posting, you need to be with me.’ I have an option to stay here in Hong Kong for six years or opt for a cross-posting, after three years.
“But let’s see, kasi I can not say naman. Mahirap iyong maka-cut iyong education ng mga bata, then another adjustment for the kids. Sa akin, ok lang kasi ito naman ang trabaho ko, but I’m thinking of the welfare of my children,” Vallespin said.
He added that he does not want to go through what he experienced when he was in Riyadh and was told that his daughter had dengue.
“Ayoko na malayo sila, siyempre. Noong 2008, nasa Riyadh na ako. Noong nagbakasyon ako ng 2009, tapos paalis na ako, ang tamlay-tamlay ng panganay ko noong hinatid nila ako sa airport. Pagdating ko sa Riyadh, tinawagan ako ng wife ko na may dengue nga yung bata.
“Kaya pala ang tamlay niya sa airport. Siyempre, ikaw, praning ka, busy ka doon, so iyong ganoon. Although dito, siyempre, may mga issues pa rin, but at least magkakasama kayo,” Vallespin said.
As the person in charge of promoting Philippine culture to the Hong Kong community, Vallespin said a number of activities and events have been lined up for this
year.
“We just a had a meeting with Filipino doctors connected with the Hong Kong University and they are helping the PCG in conducting events like iyong nakaraan nagkaroon ng concert ang Philippine Madrigal Singers dito during the Independence Day celebrations,” he said.
In August, Teatro Pilipino will hold a series of events, whose highlight will be a musical staging of the life of Philippines’ national hero Jose Rizal.
Also, in August or September, Ballet Manila, led by renowned prima ballerina Lisa Macuja, will be performing here.
“Ballet Manila prepared their event here, and arranged their travel, but those of us here in the PCG, tayo ang representative ng mga tao natin dito. Pwede din tayong mag-invite ng mga tao to go there, showcasing na ito palang mga Pilipino hindi lang magaling sa kantahan, so basta whole facet of cultural promotion,” he added.
Finally, in October, a film festival featuring eight Filipino movies will be held in Hong Kong.
“We are targeting audiences from primary schools, secondary schools, and the universities and the professionals. The main target is cultural exchange so Hong Kongers will know about our culture.
“We’ll be introducing them to Philippine culture, and our medium is motion pictures. May napili nang eight movies – may historical film, may romantic comedy, and even animation,” Vallespin said.
The new PCG official knows that the Hong Kong post is one of the busiest in the world, and he said he is looking forward to playing his role in promoting the welfare of the nearly 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Hong Kong.
“You know the Hong Kong post is one the busiest posts sa DFA, aside, of course, sa Middle East post, specifically sa Riyadh, so dito, trabaho.
“Iyon lang naman ang reason why we are here is to promote the welfare of our compatriots. We all play a role under the leadership of Consul General. I am looking forward to continuing the task that my predecessor successfully accomplished and foster our friendship with other diplomatic missions and consulates here,” he said.
Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Vallespin said Consul General Bernardita Catalla told him that with the work load that he will have in Hong Kong, time will seem to pass by.
“Sabi nga ni ConGen kahapon, ‘before you know it, nakaka-isang taon ka na, and before you know it, pauwi ka na. That is the beauty of a busy post kasi there will be no dull moments.
“Hindi naman natin sinasabi na hindi busy ang ibang posts, pero [iba] ang workload kasi dito,” he added.