UK’s First Filipina Elected Official Gets Prestigious Award

Image Caption: Councillor Cynthia Barker, awardee, (middle in red) with friends and family at the British Community Awards 2016. To Barker’s left is Philippine Ambassador Evan P. Garcia. MELISSA ALCANTARA

 

 

By: Melissa Legarda Alcantara / @inquirerdotnet

INQUIRER.net US Bureau / London Correspondent

LONDON – England’s first Filipina UK town and borough councillor, Cynthia Barker, was honored at the 16th Anniversary British Community Honours Awards ceremony at the House of Lords, Westminster in central London, Friday, Oct. 21.

Barker was bestowed a Community Award endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen, recognizing her outstanding contributions and services to British society.

Barker In 2015 broke political barriers by being the first Filipina to win in the General Election. Barker’s winning two elective posts in 2015 in Potter’s Bar at Borough level, and in Elstree and Borehamwood at Town level, was a historic occasion for British-Filipinos.

Aside from her main career as an immigration adviser, Barker has long volunteered for a number of charity and community organizations: as trustee for the Sixty Plus Club; chair of Trustees for Elstree and Borehamwood Museum; school governor; member and president of Rotary Club; committee member of local NSPCC branch; and chair of outreach and community affairs Committee at the Filipino Women’s Association.

 Special guests of Councillor Barker at the black-tie event included her friends and family, as well as Philippine Ambassador Evan P. Garcia.

Ambassador Garcia said, “Tonight is a very special evening for the Filipino community here in the UK. “[Barker] has done so much to raise awareness for the Filipino community and to promote integration for a multicultural United Kingdom. So Cynthia, thank you, from all of us.”

 Founded by Yasmin Sheikh CBE, the British Community Honours Awards honor members of Britain’s minority communities for their contribution to British society, including improving the welfare, prosperity and inclusion of minority communities.

Since the inaugural awards in 2001, which focused primarily on the British Muslim community, the awards has become an increasingly important part of mainstream British society.

Now, the ceremony recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals from other minority and ethnic communities.

The Community Awards include Education, Politics, Business-Corporate, Business Entrepreneurial, Law & Professional, Arts & Culture, and Social & Humanitarian.

Councillor Cynthia Barker with Lord Lieutenant of Kingston-Upon-Thames, Colonel Geoffrey Godbold. MELISSA ALCANTARA
Councillor Cynthia Barker with Lord Lieutenant of Kingston-Upon-Thames, Colonel Geoffrey Godbold. MELISSA ALCANTARA

“For me, this is an appreciation of all the things I have done. Obviously, when you do services for the community you’re not expecting anything, because when you give that service it actually enriches you. You expect nothing back,” Barker said.

“But when a body like this recognizes your contribution to society, it really means a lot. I feel very humbled and honored, and I hope that our Filipino community can see this.”

She added, “In the Filipino community, there are so many who do so much. But they’re very quiet. We need to start reaching out to them and I want to inspire them. I want this to be a regular venue for our community every year.”

“Every year the Philippine Embassy should be here. The way they’ve supported me tonight, they will support our community. Let’s get them all recognized for all the good work that they do.”

Barker ended her speech by dedicating the award to her guests and to the Filipino community at large. “Let’s get recognition for all the hard work that they do.” -@melissalegarda

 

(Source: Inquirer.net)

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