Fil-Am Bishop Honored on International Migrants Day in LA

Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Posted at 12/23/15 12:45 PM

LOS ANGELES – The past weekend marked an international celebration of migrants and immigrant rights advocates at Olvera Street in Los Angeles.

“It is a moment in which we are asked to recognize the contributions that immigrants make to our society, to our economy, to the arts, and every single aspect of global life,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Reform Los Angeles (CHIRLA).

CHIRLA honored a dozen outstanding LA-based immigrants, both documented and undocumented, and in many sectors including one Filipino, Bishop Oscar Solis.

However, the country’s highest ranking Filipino catholic was unable to attend the ceremony.

“Immigrants aren’t only thriving in their community but they’re helping their community thrive. So today, we have the great opportunity to recognize some of our important contributors to Los Angeles life here in the City of Angels,” said Salas.

Immigrants, especially the undocumented, have become targets and in some cases, scapegoats during the presidential campaign season.

Honorees emphasize that by highlighting their achievements, they can continue to prove critics wrong.

In 2000, the United Nations proclaimed December 18th as International Migrants Day as an effort to raise the awareness on the protection of migrants.
(Source: ABS-CBN.com)