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.

Filipinnovation Forum Highlights Gaming and Animation at Philippine Creative Industries Month in New York City

NEW YORK, 29 September 2026 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York, hosted a forum on “Filipinnovation in Gaming, Animation, and Interactive” at the Philippine Center in New York.

Held in commemoration of Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM), the event highlighted Filipino and Filipino-American professionals who have established careers in the gaming, animation, design, and interactive media industries in the United States.

In his welcome remarks, Acting Head of Post and Consul Juan Carlos C. Borromeo acknowledged the significant contributions of Filipinos in the creative industry; he described it as a “fast-growing industry in the Philippines”and acknowledged its contributions to the Philippine economy.

Trade Commissioner Alma F. Argayoso then presented an overview of the Philippine Animation Industry where she highlighted that the Philippines has more than 40 years of experience in creative services. She also issued a call to action and positioned the Philippines as a potential partner to promote the Philippine creative industry.

Thereafter, the forum transitioned into a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Ingrid Festin, Director and Counsel, Business Affairs at Take-Two Interactive. Mr. Nico Puertollano, Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director of Rezonate, Mr. Rich Tu, Executive Creative Director and Partner of Sunday Afternoon, Mr. Brian Cortez, VR Developer and Owner of SpaceRex Games LLC, shared their professional background and how they navigated the highly competitive and evolving creative industry.

The discussion also explored how they are adapting to rapidly evolving artificial intelligence tools while preserving the human element in their work. The panelists also shared how Filipino culture and history have influenced their creative practice, as well as the soft skills they consider essential to succeeding in the competitive creative technology industry.

Together, the panelists underscored the importance of representation, collaboration, and cultural pride in driving success in the global creative economy.

The forum is the 10th in the Consulate’s “Filipinnovation” series, which began in 2024 and celebrates Filipino creativity and leadership across industries while inspiring the next generation of innovators. END

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

New York, USA