A group of Filipino citizens in Manitoba is urging the Philippine government to restore its consular services in Winnipeg. Ann Evangelista's aunt Dhel Cajayon fell ill but Evangelista couldn't travel to see her because her passport expired. But the Philippine Consulate could not help renew her expired passport, she said. Evangelista says most kababayans — Filipino citizens — have to go elsewhere, like Ottawa or Vancouver, to see staff at official consulates, but even that's not working. It understands Filipino citizens' concerns, and provides "after-hours or weekend consular service to some Filipinos … requesting for an urgent and immediate [assistance]," the statement said.

Source: CBC News March 26, 2021 12:56 UTC