Will you accept walk ins?

No. As a policy, all consular applicants are required to have a confirmed appointment prior to coming to the Consulate.

Will there be considerations for ballot drop offs as another option aside from mailing them to the Consulate?

Yes, a ballot receptacle box will be provided at the Philippine Center for voters who wish to personally drop off their sealed accomplished ballots.

Will there be a courtesy lane for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and others with special circumstances?

As a policy the Philippine Consulate General in New York requires all consular applicants to have a booked appointment prior to coming to the Consulate. The Consulate may give exception to meritorious cases, such as those with valid and immediate urgency to their requests. To make a request in case you are unable to book an appointment, you can send an email so we can review the merits of your particular situation to: newyorkpcg.notarials@dfa.gov.ph for Notarization, newyorkpcg.dual@dfa.gov.ph for Dual Citizenship, newyorkpcg.passport@dfa.gov.ph for Passport applications. All requests are subject to evaluation and approval is not guaranteed.

Will the Consulate be open on the weekend of May 7-8?

Yes, the Consulate is open 24 /7 for the entire voting period (including weekends and holidays) from 09 April 2022 to 08 May 2022 for registered voters who wish to personally drop off their ballots at the Consulate. The Consulate will be open on 09 May 2022, the last day for the casting of ballots until 7:00 a.m. Ballots received after 7:00am will no longer be counted.

Will my foreign spouse, who will travel with me to the Philippines, be required to secure additional travel documents from the Philippine Consulate before leaving?

The answer would depend on the intended period of stay in the Philippines and if the spouse is a visa-required national under the Philippine visa regulation. Foreign spouse (as well as children) included in the visa waiver category may avail of the Balikbayan-Program for stays of up to one (1) year. Otherwise, they would need to apply for an appropriate visa.

WOMEN LEADERS IN TECH AND BUSINESS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH

As part of its month-long commemoration of National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in New York, in partnership with the National Innovation Council of the Philippines and Dream Bigger Ventures, hosted a conversation with Filipina leaders in tech and business on Thursday, 07 March, at the Philippine Center.

Trade Commissioner Benedict Uy, in his opening remarks, welcomed the audience, which consisted of young professionals in the tech, investment, business, and financial services sectors and members of the public. He added that this kind of engagement will be a regular program of the Philippine Consulate to encourage young Filipino-Americans to contribute to a dynamic innovation ecosystem.

Mr. Earl Martin Valencia, co-founder of Plentina and Executive Member of the National Innovation Council of the Philippines (NIC), presented the Philippine Innovation Act, which adopts innovation as a vital component of the country’s development policies to drive inclusive development and promotes growth and national competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME). He said, “From fragmented and disharmonized initiatives, an enhanced national innovation system will further boost economic growth. As the innovation ecosystem enabler, the government will drive more innovation outputs by providing more innovation inputs through policy, financing, infrastructure, and culture. This revitalized innovation ecosystem is the key to achieving a smart and innovative Philippines – a productive, resilient, sustainable, and inclusive nation by 2032.”

The following served as resource speakers and shared their respective expertise and experiences in navigating tech, business, and investment:

● Jox Petiza, Senior Partner, Luxury and Beauty, EssenceMediaCom

● Carina Oriel, Head of Rise New York, Rise, created by Barclays

● Alissa Beltran, Manager, Strategy and Transformation, EY

● Kim de los Reyes, CEO+Founder of Seek Health AI

The panel discussion was moderated by Christeen Rico, Founder of Dream Bigger Ventures. Edil Cuepo, Founder of Pickle Media, provided exclusive event coverage through social media.

In the closing message of Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, which Trade Commissioner Uy delivered, he said, “The accomplishments of our speakers and participants today are not just personal triumphs; they are victories for the entire Filipino community. They serve as a reminder that when Filipinas are allowed to lead and innovate, they not only rise to the occasion but also raise the bar for excellence.” END

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

New York, USA