ConGen Mei-An Austria: Living, Loving Vancouver on a Dream Tour-of-Duty

No one said the job is easy.

More so, if for example, you find that the struggle is real for skilled professional Filipino immigrants in Canada as they hurdle the enduring challenge of getting the rightful recognition they so deserve for the education and proficiencies that they brought with them from the mother country.

“While Canada is a very welcoming environment, we see our kababayans unable to practice their profession and thus, accept jobs that they are overqualified for,” observed the freshly-installed Consul General Mei-An Austria in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Three (3) months into her office at the time of this writing, the ConGen is ironically faced with years-old issues that threaten to consume her perseverance and “creative problem-solving” ability as a leader. But the new ConGen is not backing down. Instead, she intends to move faster forward towards a solution, as she strives to work with both the Canadian provincial government and Fil-Canadian organizations who also like to see change somewhere along the way.

“I want the consular office to be more than a place for renewing passports,” quipped ConGen Austria.

She wants her office to be more pro-active in determining where help is needed and delivering that help with dispatch. But as a true diplomat, she is earnestly trying to discover “the path of least resistance,” where she can work with the local authorities, who are also interested in improving the lives of Filipinos and Fil-Canadians in Vancouver, and Canada, in general.

Feeling the Pulse of Caregivers, TFWs

The other focus of interest is the plight of caregivers and temporary foreign workers (TFWs) with whom she shares both short-term and long-term concerns. Short-term like whether their contracts are above board; or long-term like how long should their children or families in the Philippines really wait to be reunited with them in Canada? Or will they ever have that chance, especially with the current restriction on permanent residency for those who entered after November 2017?

With the Philippines having become one of the biggest exporters of people to the world, migrant issues will remain to be in the daily dose of carb in the diet of Philippine ambassadors anywhere around the globe. ConGen Austria included.

Thirty-one (31) years in public service, 25 of which is with the foreign service, the good Consul has had her share of having to address pressing problems of Filipinos abroad. Before her stint at the Department of Foreign Affairs, she was, in fact, a Division Chief at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (1989-1992), and Labor and Employment Development Officer at the Department of Labor and Employment’s International Labor Affairs Service (1986-1989).

She played a pivotal role in establishing the first set of Welfare Offices and Filipino Workers’ Centers in various parts of the world

The more challenging part when addressing such issues, she recalled, is that the consular office cannot be at the driver’s seat all the time, if not mostly always at the back seat. Notwithstanding how grandiose the office nomenclature sounds, it can only play a supporting role or even forced to watch carefully in the background as they mediate issues vis-à-vis what can and cannot be done within the parameters of the adoptive government’s policies and regulations.

ConGen Austria is somehow saying that it is one thing to push for our kababayans’ issues and it is another thing to avoid antagonizing the mainstream, or we may be pulled further down and end up accomplishing nothing.

While most of the positions she assumed in the past seemingly entailed think-tank roles and swivel-chair execution, she said that at many points in these assignments, she also had to roll up her sleeves in the service of her countrymen and love for her own country.  In North America, she had worked hard into cases of Filipinos facing death penalty and teachers who are victims of illegal recruitment.

Love is Also Husband, Daughters and Vancouver

Love to ConGen is also her family of four (4) – three (3) daughters and a very supportive husband, Engr. Carlito Eduardo Austria, who she said had been lucky to be a private businessman and therefore, can conduct his business from anywhere the world takes their family. Engr. Austria is currently President of RGE AgriDev Corporation.

For now, Vancouver it is.  And how the ConGen is beginning to love the city – the weather, the food, the even-tempered pace perhaps, the vibrant Filipino community, and as a bonus, the opportunities it may present to her own girls while the family is on this assignment.

The youngest, Gabe, 18 is a freshman student at the University of British Columbia; the second, Abby, 22 graduated from Ateneo de Manila University and intends to take some post-graduate studies in Vancouver; while the eldest Patrice, 26, had just finished her Master’s from Yale University.

While she does not see any of her children following in her footsteps in government service, ConGen Austria believes that the youth have multiple ways to participate in nation- building.

“A career in foreign service is very fulfilling. In the foreign service, (they can) also get to perform a variety of tasks, all of which contribute to the goals of national development and empowerment of our people.”

She added that “The best qualification for a career in public service is a deep and abiding love for our country, as well as a genuine interest in serving our people, wherever they may be. From this conviction, you can develop the skills needed to perform to the best of your ability. A public servant also has to be committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in the performance of our daily functions.”

“I have been fortunate to have been exposed to exemplary public servants and statesmen. I continue to admire my colleagues in the service, many of them are women, some of whom have already retired, who have always put the interest of the country above themselves. Their wisdom, professionalism, and elegance are always examples for us.”

Immediately before Vancouver, ConGen Austria was Assistant Secretary for American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila from June 2014 to mid-June 2018; and the Political Officer and subsequently Deputy Chief of Mission at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC from April 2009 – May 2014.

A Child of EDSA People Power

It has been a long journey to a career in foreign service for the Consul General, who graduated from Maryknoll College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies; and obtained a post-graduate diploma in International Relations and Development from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, the Netherlands.

“I was in college when the Filipino people came together in what became known as People Power. As an active participant in that effort, we were very much aware that overthrowing a dictatorship was the easy part, but the task of rebuilding the country would be arduous. I joined government in August 1986, a few months after earning my bachelor’s degree, inspired by the desire to help rebuild the nation.”

She said she feels lucky that “I have had the privilege of contributing to the promotion and protection of the Philippine’s national interest through six (6) administrations in various capacities. I continue to work towards my dream of helping rebuild the nation and improve the lives of our people.”

As of today, however, the good Consul could not think of anything or any other dream assignment than the beautiful British Columbia and its lovely city of Vancouver.

Retirement is also not in her radar at the moment.  ConGen admits she is just too happy to be assigned in Vancouver, too new to be bragging at any achievement in this assignment as of yet; but hopefully, will not be too busy to enjoy the city’s best sushi and breath-taking sceneries.  Most importantly, never too distracted from doing her Vancouver tour-of-duty the best way that she can, with the help of Fil-Can Vancouverites.

At the end of the day, if there is anything to accomplish at all, it is to see to it that “the presence of Filipinos will be felt and valued” in this Land of the Immigrant