<?php
class myUtf8ConnectionFilter extends sfFilter
{
  public function execute($filterChain)
  {
    if($this->isFirstCall()) {
        $con = Propel::getConnection();
        if ($con){
           $con->executeQuery("set names utf8");
        } else {
          throw new Exception();
        }
    }
    
    $filterChain->execute();
  }
}