Filipino workers in Laos were encouraged to continue being ambassadors of goodwill for the Philippines in the foreign land.
In his message during a meeting with the Filipino community in Vientiane, Laos, Marcos said he was pleased with how Filipinos strengthened people-to-people relations in Laos.
“Kaya naman, nais kong ipagpatuloy pa ninyo ang pagiging ambassadors of Filipino goodwill dito sa bansang Lao PDR (This is why I want you to continue being ambassadors of Filipino goodwill here in Lao DPR),” Marcos told the Filipino community on Tuesday night, Oct. 8.
The President expressed his gratitude for their invaluable contributions in the growth of Laos and the Philippine economy.
“By exercising your professions in the professional and the expert way that you do, through your daily interactions with the locals, you have become valuable members of society. You make us all very, very proud!” he said.
Marcos also assured the Filipino workers there that the government is committed to providing better domestic opportunities for Filipinos so they no longer need to leave the country for work.
“Ginagawa po namin ang lahat ng ito upang patuloy naming mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang bawat Pilipino. Nang sa gayon, ay hindi na kinakailangan ng sinuman na lumisan pa sa Pilipinas at makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa (We are doing everything to give you a better future so that Filipinos would no longer need to leave the Philippines to look for opportunities abroad),” he said.
The Chief Executive also told the Filipino community in Laos that he intends to advance Philippine national interests, including maintaining peace and security in the region, and to strengthen the economy, and to ensure the well-being of Filipinos during his participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits.
Laos is home to an estimated 2,000 Filipinos mostly working as teachers, engineers, among other professionals and skilled workers.
Around 400 overseas Filipino workers welcomed the President during his inaugural visit to Lao PDR.