PH Consul General Advocates for Global Citizenship Rooted in Cross-Cultural Understanding and Shared Humanity at Staten Island Event
NEW YORK CITY, 28 October 2024 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile was among the guest speakers at “Cultivating Global Citizenship,” an intercultural event hosted by the Social Work Department of the College of Staten Island (CSI) on 24 October 2024. Bringing together students, faculty, social workers, and community members, the event examined ways to strengthen both local and global communities through cultural understanding and shared responsibility.
In her remarks, Dr. Sonia Rowe Brown, CSI Lecturer and Intercultural Event Coordinator, emphasized the need for students to actively engage in global citizenship by supporting vulnerable individuals within their communities. She encouraged students to take action by writing to local representatives, advocating for justice, and fostering a sense of belonging for those in need.
Consul General Mangalile shared insights on global citizenship, illustrating it through the Philippines’ diverse cultural heritage and his experience in foreign service. He emphasized that cross-cultural understanding is essential for fostering empathy and unity and encouraged participants to see global citizenship as a bridge across borders. He underscored that “shared humanity” is the foundation for building meaningful relationships and addressing challenges that impact communities worldwide.
Other key speakers—Mr. Lawman Lynch, Ms. Shakira Kennedy, Mr. Stephen Ferst, Mr. Christopher Benjamin, Ms. Ana Vizcara Rankin, and Mr. Donovan Wilson—addressed various dimensions of global citizenship, including cultural resilience, environmental stewardship, migration, and social justice.
A Q&A session followed the presentations, where speakers underscored that fostering global citizenship begins with local actions rooted in empathy and an awareness of global challenges. They encouraged active community involvement and collaborative initiatives as essential steps to equip students with the skills needed for an interconnected world.
By the event’s close, the Philippine Consulate General offered attendees a preview of the Sentro Rizal Metaverse Museum, a virtual space developed with Sentro Rizal New York (SRNY) and Filipino-American XR designer Ralph Roma. This digital museum presents Philippine culture through interactive exhibits, 3D artifacts, and multimedia in real time, providing an immersive cultural experience ahead of its official launch. END
