The 5th Global Filipino Networking Convention (GFNC)
Sydney, Australia
I attended as Delegate from the State of Queensland, Australia the 5th Global Filipino Networking Convention (GFNC) in Sydney, Australia on the 6th-8th September 2007. The Convention focused on the opportunity to forge meaningful partnerships, sharing of views, hopes and visions of the future over 8 million Filipinos dispersed across the globe.
The 5th GFNC was run side-by-side with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit where H.E Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo together with other 20 heads of government discussed issues of our future directions for the region.
GFNC is an International gathering of Filipino community leaders held for the first time in Sydney, Australia; the Purpose of which is to empower Filipinos all over the world. GFNC celebrates the accomplishments of Filipinos and discusses issues of importance to Filipinos in the Diaspora. Hence, the GFNC increases the profile of the Philippines globally.
The Organisers for the 5th GFNC were The Filipino Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA), the Philippine Community Council of Australia, New South Wales (PCC-NSW), and the Global Filipino Australia (GFA).
The Theme of GFNC is "Fair Go for Filipino Empowerment." The Topic Sessions discussed, examined and expounded on the socio-economic and political entitlement due to overseas Filipinos. "Organising and harnessing the political and socio-economic power of global Filipinos through networking is the most effective way to bring us all together to share our individual and collective experiences", Lolita Castillo Farmer OAM, Co-Chair, 5th GFNC said. In the words of Co-Chair Malyn Andres Chun, Pres. of FILCCA commented that it is "indeed very appropriate because it will give us a chance to show what 'Pinoy[Filipino]Power' has to offer."
Global Filipinos stand together, strive together and pursue our common goals together. Global Filipinos are able to draw from each other's strength and compensate for each other's weaknesses.
Australian-Filipinos are poised to become active players and leaders in engaging fellow overseas in the global discourse of empowerment for development.
The GFNC milestone event was born in San Francisco, California in 2002, moved to Manila and Cebu, then crossed the Pacific Ocean again in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2006. It is therefore the first time that this Convention was held in another location (now Sydney, Australia) other than Philippines and the USA.