Atty. Paulo Garcia, a former Honorary Consul General in Auckland, New Zealand was sworn in on Tuesday, 21 May 2019 as a list member of the parliament in New Lynn for the New Zealand National Party making him the first MP of Filipino ancestry.
Prior to migrating to New Zealand, Garcia was a lawyer for 10 years in the Philippines practicing commercial law.
Garcia initiated the Pinoys Go National, an organization of Filipinos in New Zealand which aims at giving back to the country that has welcomed them.
Atty. Garcia swearing-in as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, taking his Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand. (Screenshot, NZ Parliament video)
MP Garcia being congratulated by Rt. Hon. Trevor Mallard MP, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. (Screenshot, NZ Parliament video)
Philippine Embassy in Wellington, Filipino community leaders and friends witnessing swearing-in ceremony of Paulo Garcia MP, including Ambassador Jesus Domingo (lower left) and immediate past Ambassador Virginia Benavidez (upper right). (Photo courtesy of Tim McIndoe MP)
For more information, visit www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philembassy.org.nz or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/.