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.

New York PCG Hosts an Evening Talk on Mental Health Awareness with Distinguished Filipino Women

(Left photo) Philippine Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (third from right) joins FilAm mental health advocates (L-R) Ms. Doris Delgado-Novicio, Dr. Salvacion Francisco, Ms. Michelle Garcia, Ms. Angelita Cordova-Hayes and Ms. Jillian Mariano in a lively discussion on mental health awareness at the Philippine Center. (Right photo) Official poster of “An Evening with Distinguished Filipino Women: Lets Talk About Mental Health.” (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas)

NEW YORK, 11 March 2025 – In commemoration of Philippine National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in New York held “An Evening With Distinguished Filipino Women” featuring a substantive discussion on mental health awareness.

In his opening remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile noted that mental health plays a vital role in one’s overall well-being. He observed that those who struggle with their mental health are more likely to experience relationship challenges, physical health issues, and frustrations in attaining their long-term goals. He also conveyed the key message of the event, that it is extremely important to give attention to one’s mental health which is just as important as one’s physical health.

Three notable Filipino-American mental health advocates were invited to share their thoughts on the topic of mental health: Dr Salvacion “Sally” Francisco, Deputy Chief Nurse Executive and Director of Nursing Operations in James J. Peters Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center and Board Director for the Philippine Nurses Association NY Chapter, Ms. Angelita Cordova-Hayes, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and incumbent and founding President of the Filipino American Movement for Equity (FAME) Inc., and Ms. Michelle Garcia, a mental health educator and trainer, and founder of Thriving Asians, an organization dedicated to uplifting the mental health, leadership and holistic success of Filipinos and Asians across the diaspora. The event was co-hosted by Ms. Dorothy Delgado Novicio, author and contributing writer/columnist of the Philippine Star and Ms. Jillian Mariano, outpatient clinician and art therapy practitioner who also is a second-generation Filipino American.

Listeners benefited from the shared personal and professional mental health experiences of the panelists. Mental health challenges have long been a hidden struggle for Filipinos living abroad, particularly in the United States. Per online studies, Filipinos living in the United States reportedly suffer from depression and psychological distress at a rate higher compared to the US general population. Despite the availability of therapeutic approaches for mental health treatment, Filipino Americans are the least likely to seek mental health services due to negative social labeling, stigma and silence.

The panelists recommended practical tips to promote better mental health, such as consciously practicing holistic care, reaching out to family and friends for support, having a trusted adult in your life, and encouraging healthy habits such as getting good sleep and doing exercise. The health benefits to owning pets should not also be discounted. The Consulate General of the Philippines in New York supported the call of the panelists for greater community collaboration and public awareness campaigns to dispel myths, reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking and peer support.

The event “An Evening with Distinguished Filipino Women” is conducted annually by the Consulate General of the Philippines as a platform to honor and recognize the exceptional accomplishments of Filipino American women in the Northeastern United States. END

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

New York, USA