PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Philippine Graduation in New York Recognizes Filipino Achievers Across the US Northeast (Left) Consul General Senen T. Mangalile and Philippine university officials lead the awarding of medals and certificates to the honorees; (Right) Ms. Jubel Jasmin Coronel speaks on behalf of the PGrad Class of 2025, recounting her academic journey and the shared experiences of fellow graduates. (Photos by Nikka Arenal & Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK, 31 May 2025 – Forty-three Filipino and Filipino-American graduates from various academic institutions across the U.S. Northeast and beyond gathered for the 12th Philippine Graduation (PGrad) on 31 May 2025 at Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York. A flagship project of the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the event provided graduates and their families a uniquely Filipino-style commencement ceremony, complete with a certificate and medal awarding, and the opportunity for loved ones to join them on stage, a moment often missed in U.S. university graduations.The ceremony began with the Philippine National Anthem, performed by Banda El Gobernador from Bacoor City, Cavite, who also led the processional march. Also in attendance were officials and representatives from Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Cebu Institute of Technology University, University of the…

PH Consul General Highlights Filipino WWII Experience at International History Conference (Left photo) Consul General Senen T. Mangalile delivers a presentation on the Philippine experience during World War II at the International History Conference held at Dominican University New York. (Right photo) Historians, scholars, and educators listen with keen interest during the presentation. (Photos by Nikka Arenal) NEW YORK, 30 May 2025 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile participated in the International History Conference on World War II, hosted by the Dominican University New York, in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the end of the greatest conflict in history.Held from 28 to 31 May 2025, the conference brought together historians, scholars, and educators to share and learn insights, research findings, and perspectives on the global impact and enduring legacy of World War II.Consul General Mangalile concluded the conference with a presentation on the Philippine wartime experience, which shaped the country’s path to independence, defined its national identity, and its contemporary foreign relations.In his closing address, Consul General Mangalile thanked the Dominican University for allowing the Philippine experience to be part of this global conversation. “It is a story of war—but also of dignity, resilience, and recovery. Let us continue…

Filipina Opera Legend Evelyn Mandac Mentors Young Artists in Special Kundiman Masterclass at New York PCG Renowned soprano Evelyn Mandac (left photo) offers live vocal coaching and interpretation guidance to masterclass participants Aretha Angcao, Lauren Florek, Carlo Bunyi, and Ramon Tenefrancia. Each singer performed a kundiman and received real-time feedback on vocal technique and stylistic delivery during the session. (Photo by: Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK, 29 May 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York commemorated National Heritage Month with a stirring evening of music, mentorship, and cultural pride through the Kundiman Masterclass with Evelyn Mandac, held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York.The masterclass featured Evelyn Mandac, a living legend in Philippine music and the first Filipina to perform major roles at the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Mandac mentored four rising vocal talents—Aretha Angcao, Carlo Bunyi, Lauren Florek, and Ramon Tenefrancia—in interpreting and performing the kundiman, a classical Filipino song form rooted in themes of love, patriotism, and resilience. Accompanying them on the piano was Ms. Fides Cutiongco. Audience members engage in a Q&A session with Evelyn Mandac and producer Chiara Cox (via video call) following the screening of “The Filipina Soprano Who Broke Opera…

New York PCG Honors Filipino Harvard Graduates for Excellence and Academic Milestones Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, Ms. Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine, and Ms. Myrish Cadapan Antonio (standing, center) with Filipino graduates of Harvard’s Class of 2025. (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK CITY, 28 May 2025 — The Philippine Consulate General in New York honored 46 Filipino and Filipino-American graduates of the prestigious Harvard University during the 8th Annual Harvard Club of the Philippines Pinoy Graduation, held on 27 May 2025 at Harvest Restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This marks the third consecutive year of the Consulate’s participation, which began in 2023.The ceremony celebrated the achievements of Filipino and Filipino-American students from Harvard’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. This year’s cohort completed degrees in fields including education, law, business, neuroscience, public health, public administration, and the sciences. It is the largest group since the gathering was first held.Ms. Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine, Vice Chair of the Harvard Board of Overseers and a long-time advocate for Filipino students at Harvard, opened the program with a message of warmth and high regard. “Just as we gather in the fall to welcome new Filipino students,” she said, “we gather in the spring to send off our graduates…

Sentro Rizal New York Receives Children’s Books and Learning Materials from Lampara Publishing House Deputy Consul General Adrian S. Cruz (fourth from right) receives children's books from Mr. Segundo Matias of the Lampara Publishing House, Inc. (fifth from right). (Photo by Nikka Arenal) NEW YORK, 27 May 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York and Sentro Rizal New York received children’s books and learning materials from Mr. Segundo Matias, President and General Manager of Lampara Publishing House Inc., a Manila-based publisher known for its educational content for young readers.The extensive collection of fully illustrated children’s books and work activity books are published in English and Filipino, and geared towards child development and values formation.  These educational tools aim to develop basic language skills, promote critical thinking, stimulate creativity, and instill positive values among children.Lampara Publishing House is renowned for its commitment to producing children’s books and educational resources that promote early academic learning, creativity, and character development.The materials will be utilized by the Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America (AFTA) during the 27th Paaralan sa Konsulado (PSK) in July 2025, a flagship summer initiative of the Consulate that nurtures Filipino heritage and education among the youth. More information…

PH Consul General Highlights Diplomacy’s Role in Global Affairs at Regis High School Panel Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (second from right), together with Mexican Consul Diego Sandoval Pimentel (second from left) and Spanish Consul Pedro Calvo-Sotelo (rightmost), engages with students during the Global Scholars Program panel discussion at Regis High School. (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK, 22 May 2025 — Consul General Senen T. Mangalile joined a panel discussion at Regis High School as part of its Global Scholars Program, where he spoke with students about globalization and the evolving role of diplomacy in shaping today’s world. The panel gave students a unique opportunity to hear firsthand perspectives on international relations and the challenges diplomats faced in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.Consul Diego Sandoval Pimentel of Mexico and Consul Pedro Calvo-Sotelo of Spain also took part in the discussion and shared insights from their respective diplomatic experiences. The panel was moderated by junior student Kevin Corraj. (L–R) Ms. Maura Toomb Estevez, co-moderator of the Global Scholars Program; student moderator Kevin Corraj; Mexican Consul Diego Sandoval Pimentel; Consul General Senen T. Mangalile; and Spanish Consul Pedro Calvo-Sotelo pose for a photo following the panel discussion at Regis High School.…

PH Consul General Visits Connecticut to Deepen Economic and Cultural Links Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (left) with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (right) during a courtesy call at the State Capitol in Hartford to discuss economic opportunities. (Photo by Nikka Arenal) NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, 19 May 2025 — Consul General Senen T. Mangalile paid a courtesy visit to Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker to explore opportunities for closer engagement between the Philippines and the State of Connecticut.The meetings served as a venue to exchange views on existing and potential areas of collaboration in economic development, education, sustainability, and cultural exchange. In Hartford, Consul General Mangalile and Governor Lamont discussed areas of mutual interest, including aerospace, defense, manufacturing, critical minerals, biotechnology, and the blue economy. (From left to right) Vice Consul Cathe Ryne Denice S. Aguilar, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, New Haven City Mayor Justin Elicker, Ms. HannahZoe Chua-Reyes, and Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli in front of the Office of the Mayor during the Consulate’s visit to New Haven City Hall on 19 May 2025. (Photo by Nikka Arenal) In New Haven, the Consul General and Mayor Elicker exchanged ideas on strengthening…

New York PCG Brings Consular Services to Kababayan in Maine and Massachusetts Kababayan in Brunswick, Maine (left) and Attleboro, Massachusetts (right) receive consular services during the Philippine Consulate General in New York’s outreach missions held on 3 and 10 May 2025, respectively. The back-to-back missions brought passport, dual citizenship, civil registry, notarization, and overseas voting services closer to Filipino communities in the US Northeast. (Photos by Lito Aguinaldo and Joey Magoso) BRUNSWICK, MAINE / ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS – The Philippine Consulate General in New York successfully conducted back-to-back consular outreach missions in Brunswick, Maine on 3 May 2025 and Attleboro, Massachusetts on 10 May 2025, extending vital services to Filipinos in the US Northeast who reside far from the Consulate.A total of 124 consular services were rendered across the two missions, including passport renewal, dual citizenship applications, civil registry, notarization, and pre-enrollment and voting assistance services for the 2025 Philippine National Elections. These outreach missions marked the third and fourth consular outreach activities conducted by the Philippine Consulate in 2025, following the successful back-to-back missions held in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in April. Filipino community members in Brunswick, Maine, attend a Town Hall Meeting on Overseas Voting, which provides essential information…