Homecoming sa Konsulado Celebrates 12 Years of Bringing Together Filipino Alumni across US Northeast
NEW YORK CITY, 09 October 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York, in partnership with various Philippine alumni associations in the northeastern US, held the 12th Homecoming sa Konsulado (HSK) on 05 October 2024 at Van Saun Park in Paramus, New Jersey.
With the theme, “Magkaisa sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the event brought together 13 alumni from Philippine universities and colleges in a vibrant celebration of Philippine heritage that fostered unity and shared pride in their roots and achievements.
Ms. Vivian Talambiras-Cruz, representing the organizing team from the alumni associations, emphasized the importance of HSK in nurturing camaraderie and the deep connections between alumni and their alma maters in the Philippines. She highlighted the event’s continued success and a strong collective effort from the community that made this year’s celebration possible.
In his remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile underscored the role of HSK in strengthening the bonds within the Filipino alumni community. He stressed the importance of unity within the Filipino diaspora, particularly as the Philippines faces increasing geopolitical challenges in asserting its sovereignty. He further encouraged attendees to remain actively engaged with the homeland and to contribute in meaningful ways.
Meanwhile, Ms. Myrish Antonio, co-founder and CEO of the Filipino Young Heritage Initiative, delivered brief remarks about her organization’s efforts to nurture Filipino identity and leadership among the youth through the Filipino Young Global Leadership Program. She also mentioned her recent collaboration with Khan Academy, which, in partnership with the Department of Education, has reached nearly 1,000 public schools in the Philippines. She called on the community to support these and other initiatives aimed at addressing the country’s educational challenges.
In his presentation, Tourism Attaché Francisco M. Lardizabal announced an upcoming digital ad campaign promoting Philippine tourism, set to run in Times Square starting in the third week of November. He also introduced the Department of Tourism’s “Bisita Be My Guest” program and invited attendees to join the annual Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour, a longstanding collaboration between the Department of Foreign Affairs, DOT, and Rajah Tours, offering curated travel experiences across various regions of the Philippines.
The celebration was filled with vibrant activities, including special performances by Ms. Nerissa Abadilla and the University of the Philippines Alumni & Friends Rondalla, line dancing to Filipino music, and interactive games. The community also enjoyed a delicious spread of Filipino dishes such as menudo, pancit, lumpia, caldereta, and cassava cake.
The event concluded with a cleanup of the venue by the participants, a gesture that reflected the spirit of bayanihan and shared responsibility that the Homecoming sa Konsulado strives to uphold. END
