The Philippine Embassy in Wellington registered the 4,000th Filipino overseas voter-applicant for the 9 May 2016 National Election. The overseas voting (OV) registration took place at the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland during the Embassy’s Mobile Consular Services there on 14 to 18 May 2015. The 4,000th applicant is Mr. Ringo M. Bajenting, a software developer at Propellerhead Limited in Auckland. He said he does not remember the last time he voted in the Philippines and is very much pleased to be able to participate in the process and soon exercise his right of suffrage even when he is miles away from his beloved country.

The Department of Foreign Affairs – Overseas Voting Secretariat has given the Philippine Embassy in Wellington a target of 4,000 new OV registrants for the on-going registration which commenced on 6 May 2014. The very first applicant who registered on that date was Dr. Cecilia F. Aquino who is also based in Auckland. She was in Wellington at that time for official business. Dr. Aquino is Marketing Officer of Regent International Education Group, Director of MAC PHILS Consulting Limited, and Trustee of New Zealand-Philippines SCOT Charitable Trust.

Immigrants, dual citizens, OFWs, seafarers, students, and other qualified Filipinos who are or who will be in New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Cook Islands during the 30-day voting period (9 April 2016 to 9 May 2016), may still file their applications for registration/certification at the Philippine Embassy in Wellington or at the mobile consular services outreach missions scheduled in their areas during the registration period which runs until 31 October 2015.

The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand reiterates its call on Filipinos in New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Cook Islands to register and exercise their sacred right to suffrage in next year’s national elections.

Let your voices be heard and make your votes count in choosing our country’s next leaders. For information on how to register as an overseas voter in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands, please go to the Philippine Embassy’s website (www.philembassy.org.nz). Registration period is from 6 May 2014 until 31 October 2015.