Pinoy couple awarded in NZ for services to community

The New Zealand government has awarded a Filipino couple for their services to the Filipino community there.

Oscar Poquinto Batucan and his wife Miriam Alvez Batucan became the first-ever Filipino couple who were awarded the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List.

A news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the QSM recognizes the recipient’s valuable voluntary service to the community at the local or regional level.

“We are so humbled and blessed to each receive the Queen Service Medal Award for our services to the Filipino Community,” the couple, who hail from Cebu and now reside in Auckland, said.

They added the award made them “even more inspired to continue to make a difference in the life of our Co-Filipinos and are encouraged to open our doors to non-Filipinos thru our continued church outreach and social services.”

For the past 15 years, Oscar and Miriam, who moved in New Zealand in 1987, have been anchoring a radio program, “Pilipinas Mabuhay,” every Saturday from 5:55 - 6:40 p.m. on 104.6 Planet FM, providing counselling and updates on Philippine and local Auckland Filipino community news, activities, work vacancies and employment opportunities.

In addition to their family and work commitments in the government and private sector, Oscar and Miriam carried out voluntary services and support to the Filipino community for the past 26 years.

The couple are also very active in helping increase attendance in church services and devotional activities and reaching out to new Filipino migrants to facilitate their adjustment to the way of life and culture in New Zealand and sense of belonging in the Filipino and local communities.

Oscar and Miriam also broadened their networking with Filipino and other ethnic communities, joined gatherings and meetings and pursued community service and advocacies.

Since the establishment of the NZ-Filipino Devotees of Señor Sto. Niño Trust in 1994, Miriam is the chairperson and together with Oscar, continue to serve and hold annual activities and a 10-day Sinulog festival attended by more than 10,000 devotees as well as programs for the youth, women, families and senior citizens.

In 2009, Oscar and Miriam were given the Benemerenti Papal Award by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of their outstanding service to the Filipino Catholic community and the Church in Auckland.

This was the first time that a Papal Award has been received by a Filipino couple.

The Batucans have five children and eight grandchildren. —KBK, GMA News

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Photo from DFA