Ambassador Charles Jose (rightmost) administers the oath of office to the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM) for the year (from left):  auditor Celestina Olaget, treasurer Maryam binti Abdullah, assistant secretary Edelina Rocutan, secretary Myrna Pacquing, vice president Divina Bacnis and president Ruly Cagadas. 

28 February 2018 –The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported today that the new set of officers of the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM), the umbrella organization of Filipino organizations in the country, was sworn in on February 25 before representatives of FFAM member-organizations at St. John’s Community Center in Kuala Lumpur. 

Their oath was administered by Ambassador Charles Jose. 

The newly elected officers are as follows:  Ruly Cagadas of St. John’s Tahanang Filipino (President), Divina Bacnis of Triskelion Kuala Lumpur Regional Council (Vice President), Myrna Pacquing of Samahang Impok Bayan (Secretary), Edelina Rocutan of Malaysia Filipino Club (Assistant Secretary), Maryam binti Abdullah of Bahay Kalinga Foundation (Treasurer) and Celestina Olaget of BIBAK (Auditor). 

In his inspirational message, Ambassador Jose lauded the FFAM as a partner of the Embassy in its cultural and community activities and noted strong growth during the past years. 

“During those activities, FFAM did more than just mobilize its members, but more importantly FFAM actively participated by contributing numbers during the program, food for participants, as well as marshalls for crowd control and security.  It also undertook certain activities that the Embassy suggested, such as the fundraising event for Marawi, as well as the letter writing program for the troops who were fighting in Marawi.  In other words, the FFAM is the Embassy’s partner,” he said.

“The Embassy and the FFAM have one goal, and that is to advance the welfare of Filipinos in Malaysia — to serve as a support group to make the transition to Malaysia easier and to establish our Filipino roots.  One should remember to always display the finest qualities of the Filipino, those of hard work, integrity and excellence.  This way, we would leave a good impression of the Philippines and the Filipino in our workplaces,” Ambassador Jose added. 

During the event, certificates of membership and recognition were also given to its 36 member-organizations around Malaysia.  The FFAM officers also laid out its plans and programs for the year. 

The FFAM is the umbrella group of Filipino organizations which was organized on February 2012, and was subsequently registered in the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs’ Registry of Societies (ROS) in August 2012.  The FFAM serves as the Embassy’s conduit in reaching out to Filipino communities in Malaysia, and is its partner in Filipino community-sponsored events.  END 

Ambassador Jose delivers his inspirational message during the event.