CF has joined hands with the Philippine Embassy, Unison, AFO/Kanlungan, UWA, Filipino Observer, and Bison in asking the UK government to re-consider its decision to deny all requests for visa extension of all senior carers.

Some of these carers have been here for 4 years, have brought over their families and have even taken out mortgages. Affected by this turnaround in policies (considering that work permits were issued based on the same job descriptions) are those who came into the UK from 2003 onwards. Those who arrived before this should have changed their status already to "indefinite leave to remain."

With funding getting more difficult to secure from the traditional government and private institutions, CF now finds itself in a precarious position of currently having restricted and limited services with the possibility of closure in the future. New funds need to be raised and, in this regard, your Centre has launched the "Save Your Centre" campaign encouraging members, students, service-users, friends, supporters, and employers of Filipino workers to come to the assistance of CF. Letters have been sent and distributed asking for donations. In addition, CF is planning to launch a series of fundraising activities.

The new CF Board of Trustees, under Chair Marion Schumann, has announced the appointment of a temporary Co-ordinator, Ms Helen Purcell, taking over from Tim Sapurco who recently resigned. Helen brings with her a wealth of experience having worked with a number of voluntary and educational groups.

Many years ago, CF co-founded Kalayaan to campaign against oppresive government policies and succeeded.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AGAIN!

Kalayaan are once again campaigning for migrant workers against the government's new proposals which will have a serious effect on their status in the UK.

There will be a MAY DAY rally on the 1st of May. Assembly will be 12 midday at Transport House, Theobalds Road, Holborn afterwhich the group will march to Trafalgar Square.

There will be a 2nd rally on the 7th of May at 11:30 am in the Plaza in front of Westminster Cathedral, Victoria St., London Victoria.

The Centre for Filipinos held its Annual General Meeting at the CF Hammersmith upstairs hall on the 11th of March 2007.

Elected as members of the Board of Trustees were:
1. Ms Elizabeth Ajith
2. Fr Joel Bernardo
3. Mr Andrew Bramall
4. Ms Maria Cotrini
5. Ms Juana Canete
6. Ms Rachiel de Chavez
7. Mr Gordon Geraldo
8. Ms Grenda Gillegao
9. Ms Wilma Madarang
10. Ms Maria Schumann
11. Ms Valerie Sparks Thompson
12. Mr Wah Piow Tan
13. Ms Patricia Tionko
14. Mr Nish Vaithilingam

Here is the CF Hammersmith schedule for the holiday period.

Services: CF will be closed from the 21st of December to the 6th of January. Services will resume on Sunday, the 7th of January.

Sunday School: last day of classes will be on the 17th of December and will resume on the 7th of January.

It will be a very busy December for the Centre for Filipinos with 3 parties coming up. First is the CF Camden party on the 3rd of December at the Ampthill Community Centre in Euston. Contact Shirley at CF Camden for more details.

Next is the CF Golden Club Christmas Party which will be on Saturday, the 16th of December, from 3-8pm at the upstairs hall of the Hammersmith office. Please call Cecille at 02084704363 for more info.

The last one will be the CF Hammersmith Party which will be on the following day, the 17th of December, also at the upstairs hall from 6-11pm. All service users of CF are invited to this pot-luck affair.

There will be a free seminar on New Changes to Immigration Laws for Domestic Workers at 4:45pm, Sunday, 10th of December at the Centre for Filipinos Hammersmith. The speaker will be Ms Mann Wei Li, an immigration and nationality specialist solicitor. You can book your place with Martha on 02073812600.

The Centre for Filipinos, in cooperation with various community volunteers, has set up the CF Relief Coordinating Council to raise funds and help the stranded Filipino refugees in wartorn Lebanon. Voted project co-ordinator of the council was Noli Ramos of Aguman Kapampangan who will work with the core group composed of Juana Canete, Fr Joel Bernardo, Ramon Gonzalez, Hazel Joy Ballesteros, Paul Manansala, & Abel Canlas.

Contact person in Beirut is Fr Advincula of the Miraculous Medal Church which is taking care of the refugees the Philippine Embassy could not accommodate while they are awaiting repatriation to the Philippines. Fr Advincula is the only Filipinos priest in the region.

The London Piano Trio - composed of Robert Atchison (violin), Olga Dudnik (piano), and Bozidar Vukotik (cello) - and West End veteran Gia Macuja will perform in CF's fundraising concert - "The Trio and I." It will be held at the Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, Sloane Square on the 10th of November. An enticing mix of popular and classical music, from Haydn to Gershwin, and Lloyd Webber to George Canseco will form the evening's programme.