INDEPENDENCE DAY | More Filipinos in town as hospitality industry expands

Traditional dance performances from the Philippines

Macau’s growing Filipino community celebrated their Independence Day on Friday. Philippines Consul General Lilybeth R. Deapera stressed that while more Filipino nationals are setting up their own businesses in Macau, more citizens will be recruited from the Philippines as the MSAR awaits a new wave of casino resorts.
“Many Filipinos now have their own businesses, mostly in the Senado area: grocery stores selling Filipino products, a beauty salon, several restaurants cooking Filipino cuisine and even a bakery shop selling ‘pandesal,’ one of the main ingredients of our cuisine that we also eat in the morning for breakfast. To eat it feels a bit like home,” she told reporters on the sidelines of a cocktail reception at the Military Club on Friday.
Ms Deapera confirmed there has been a steady increase in the number of Filipino nationals living and working here. According to the consul general, there are about 22,000 Filipino citizens now working in the region.
“We expect more to be recruited from the Philippines, with the opening of new hotels and other establishments,” she added.
Most Filipino citizens in Macau work within the hospitality and domestic sectors, although there are also those working in the education and health sectors, the consul general said.
When asked whether Filipino nationals’ living conditions have improved, Ms Deapera stated, “in conversations we had with the government, they said they are looking into Filipinos’ living conditions here because the [residential] allowance  was good, but not at this point in time, as both inflation and the cost of living have risen.”

Consul Lilybeth Deapera

She recalled that the Macau government has always acknowledged the contributions of the Filipino community: “The business side and the government… they were one in saying that the development of the Macau economy is partly attributable to the support and work of the Filipinos.”
The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan, said she’s confident that, although Macau’s economy is in an adjustment phase, the city and the Philippines “will continue to strengthen existing partnerships and expand areas of cooperation for mutual benefits.”
Ms Chan recalled that, “the opening of the Philippines consulate general in Macau contributes to the advancement of social, economic and cultural cooperation between the two territories.”
According to the Philippine consul general, cooperation between Macau and the Philippines continued to grow in 2013, as trade volume reached USD28 million.
With several Filipino associations established in Macau, the consul general concluded that both territories will forge further opportunities for cultural cooperation.
The event to celebrate Independence Day featured a series of cultural performances, namely a showcase of two traditional dances.
The Philippines celebrated its 117th Independence Day on June 12, the day President Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the country independent from Spain in 1898.
Despite facing major challenges, namely corruption and poverty, the Philippines economy has experienced significant changes according to Ms Deapera. She concluded by saying that the economy expanded by 6.1 percent in 2013.
In a speech to mark the 117th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippines Independence, President Aquino reiterated that the country is still battling corruption and poverty. He urged Filipinos to unite in order to overcome the current challenges, the Manila Bulletin reported.