27 April 2012 – The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that it conducted the first-ever team-building and visioning workshop for Filipino community leaders in Sabah on April 22 at the Sabah Hotel in Sandakan.

The workshop was attended by some 44 Filipino community leaders from Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Kudat.

"The team-building and visioning exercise is aimed at equipping the Filipino community leaders in Sabah with conceptual tools, and empowering them so they can plan better and work more closely for the betterment of our community members there. This is in line with the Embassy's program to foster greater unity, harmony and cooperation among community members," Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya said.

Sandakan is around two to three hours via sea craft from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

The project was spearheaded by Labor Attaché Alicia B. Santos, together with community members Ms. Marilou Chin and Mr. Jess Perlas, among others.

The workshop was facilitated by Alben Bartolome of the World Institute for Leadership & Learning (WILL).

At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants drafted a community action plan for 2012 and synchronized their plans with that of the Embassy.

The participants also agreed to work together, regularly meet and update each other on the progress of their activities.

Certificates of participation were given to the participants after the workshop.

The attendees at this first-ever team-building workshop for the Filipino community in Sabah included Pinky Corpin Abistano, Alicia Andres, Babylyn Baco, Alisa Bontilao, Felsa May Bontilao, Filigrina Collado, Dato Naufal Jumadil, Josephine del Rosario, Elizabeth Dequina, Ricardo Dragon, Mary Lee Esporton, Jessica Flores, Lilibeth Jumalon Lim, Latip Salim, Verna Grace Liaw, Joseph Mariano, Roferta Mariano, Minih Abd. Rachman, Mohd. Ijin Johari , Joel Monasque, Aureen Moran, Mercedita Moran, Vicente Moran, Gustinah Nanang, Belen Nokiah, Nenita Ong, Gelyn Orbe, Pacifico Abraham, Jun Pacifico, Rewel Asir Tampus, Vilma Tampus, Saturnino Tingzon Jr., Joel Uy, Jacqueline Miñoza, Jocelyn Quelojano, Boiser Abdullah, Virginia Olarte, Gloria Paulin, Charito Tolete Vallecer, Gamih Petalla, Torben Venning and Rosalyn Dawila Venning.

Earlier, last December 4, the Embassy conducted a similar teambuilding exercise for Filipino community leaders and members from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and other regions in Peninsular Malaysia. This exercise led to the formation of the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM), now headed by Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) Council of Leaders President Amializa Francisco.

The FFAM is spearheading preparations for the Independence Day commemoration program, "Fiesta sa Embahada", on June 10.