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.

PH Consulate General in New York visits Boston Metropolitan Area in Massachusetts for trade and investment opportunities

The Philippine Consulate General in New York, led by Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, undertook a visit to Massachusetts on 20-21 May to explore trade and investment opportunities. The tour included high-level meetings and visits to renowned research and development (R&D) institutions to foster collaboration between the Philippines and the Boston Metropolitan Area, particularly in innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.

On 20 May, the delegation met with the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion under Boston City Mayor Michelle Wu. Discussions centered on the comparative advantage of the Philippines in developing plant-based fibers such as abaca, banana, and pineapple. Boston representatives highlighted resources, including the Silklab at Tufts University, and its active partnerships with U.S.-based business incubators Sagely, Scroobious, and SeaAhead. They expressed strong interest in supporting the expansion of Filipino enterprises into the U.S. market.

(Left photo) The Philippine Consulate General in New York delegation, led by Consul General Senen T. Mangalile [middle of the photo], at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. (Right photo) Consul General Mangalile explains the Consulate's Philippine Fiber and Textile program to Wyss Institute representatives, who examine the sample fibers and textiles with interest. (Photos by Vice Consul Cathe Aguilar)

The delegation also met with representatives from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University to explore the use of Philippine plant-based fibers in bioinspired materials. This meeting, driven by the Consulate’s effort to move away from the traditional use of these fibers in clothing and fashion, emphasized sustainability and innovative applications. The Institute showed significant interest in the environmental benefits and potential applications of these fibers in manufacturing, robotics, and sustainable architecture.

On 21 May, the delegation visited Greentown Labs, considered the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, and met with EcoForge, one of its member companies. EcoForge is pioneering the use of abaca and coconut coir for sustainable building materials. The ongoing project aims to replace traditional and toxic building materials with eco-friendly alternatives.

The delegation concluded their visit with a tour of the MIT Media Lab, an interdisciplinary research space at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for transformative projects. Discussions with the MIT Media Lab’s Tangible Media Group highlighted potential collaborations in advanced textiles using Philippine fibers such as pineapple fiber. The Media Lab expressed enthusiasm for integrating these fibers into their innovative research. END

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

New York, USA