Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

NEW DELHI, India — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. kickstarted his five-day state visit by meeting the Filipino community in India on Monday night.Festivities filled the function room of the Taj Mahal Hotel in India’s capital New Delhi as Cabinet secretaries sang along with OPM karaoke hits as they waited for the arrival of the president.Most of the Filipinos attended were accompanied by their Indian spouses and children.In his speech, Marcos Jr. recognized the contributions of Filipinos in India – majority are women married to Indian nationals.“Your presence here with your husband and your children is an illustration of the strong, foundational place of the family in our respective societies” he said.The president also commended Filipino professionals who excel in various fields in India such as international organizations, IT industry, engineering, marine agriculture among others.“Maging ina, maybahay, propesyonal, o anuman pong gawain, ipinagmamalaki nating lubos ang inyong pagtataguyod ng napakagandang pangalan at pagkilala sa ating bansa, sa pamamagitan ng inyong husay,  ng inyong galing, at pakikipag-kapwa-tao,” the chief executive noted.The president extended gratitude to Filipinos in India for “painting an excellent portrait of the Filipino” and for extending support to fellow Filipinos and to the endeavors of the Philippine Embassy in India.There are 2,000 Filipinos in India, according to Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Ignacio. Two hundred of them are mostly in New Delhi.The Filipino envoy also took pride of Filipinos women for being “pillars of strength who shapes families, communities and societies, and driving progress” not only in India but across the globe.He also recognized various Filipino associations and professionals who excelled in their respective field.“Sila po ay may pagkakaisa. Nagbubuklod at nagtutulungan saan man sila naroon sa pamamagitan ng kanilang samahan,” Ignacio noted.One of the recognized groups is the Kapisanan ng mga Pinay na may Asawang Indiano sa Hindustan (Kapihan).Its president, Meljun Omandam Banswal said 70 percent of Filipinos in India are married to Indian nationals.Been in India for 12 years, she shared what she believes the values and traits that captivates Filipino women the most.“My husband is an Indian. Very responsible, and hangga’t maaari he doesn’t like me to work because for him, the family is his responsibility,” she noted.“Napaka-responsible nila. Family-oriented talaga sila,” she added.With the visit of Marcos Jr., Banswal hopes this would open more opportunities for Filipino women in India as she pointed out that most Filipino women in India are stay at home moms.   “Napaka-konti nung nagwo-work, I’m not so sure kung magiging feasible ‘yun na magkaroon ng kahit na papa’no na pagkakakitaan,” she said.“Dito kasi ‘yung mga Indian family, mostly they don’t want that ladies would work. Pero luckily naman kasi ‘yung mga husband dito, nakaka-adapt na ng Filipino culture, which is naaano na nila ‘ah, my wife needs this, she needs to work also’,’ Banswal noted.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. kickstarted his five-day state visit by meeting the Filipino community in India on Monday night.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. kickstarted his five-day state visit by meeting the Filipino community in India on Monday night.

Marcos Jr. meets with Filipinos in India, recognizes contribution in various fields

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Marcos Jr. meets with Filipinos in India, recognizes contribution in various fields

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 05, 2025 12:14 AM PHT

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India

state visit

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Filipino community

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