PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Press Release EGC-033-20221 November 2022 NEW YORK CITY MAYOR DONS A BARONG TAGALOG During the unprecedented Philippine Flag raising ceremony held at the Financial District on Friday, 28 October 2022, with the Office of the New York City Mayor, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month, Mayor Eric Adams peeled off his blazer and tried on the Barong Tagalog gifted to him by Consul General Elmer G. Cato, to the delight of all those present.This is the first time that Mayor Eric Adams engaged directly with the Filipino-American Community and the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York, ever since he assumed his office on 01 January 2022. This is also the first time a New York City Mayor donned a Barong Tagalog in public.“I was telling the Consul General I wanted the Barong,” Mayor Eric Adams said, as soon as he reached the podium to deliver his message. “I want to wear that when I am in office.”The Barong Tagalog is a long-sleeved embroidered shirt, usually made of piña (pineapple leaf fiber), and worn by Filipino men during formal occasions.As a gateway to the country, New York City has historically been welcoming to immigrants. As a symbol of this…

Press Release EGC-032-202231 October 2022 A SWEET ESCAPE: A CHOCOLATE BREAK WITH THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS New York, 31 October 2022 - The Philippine Consulate General in New York, as part of its economic diplomacy efforts, organized a chocolate sommelier-guided Philippine artisanal chocolate tasting session, attended by some members of the Diplomatic Corps, on Thursday, 27 October 2022, at the Philippine Center.During the one-hour chocolate break, a variety of chocolates produced by The Chocolate Chamber (TCC), an artisanal chocolate brand based in Cebu, was introduced to the participants, such as tablea as a drink, choco-mango nugget, tartufini, whole cacao nib praline, and hand-rolled truffle. Apart from the regular chocolates offered, the participants were treated to two different chocolate dips, prepared on the spot, by Ms. Raquel Toquero-Choa, founder of TCC, who goes by the title, “Chocolate Queen.” The dips were then used on suman (Philippine sticky rice cakes) and churros (Spanish fried dough), which were provided during the session.Representatives from Consulates/Missions of Republic of Peru, Kingdom of Thailand, Republic of Türkiye, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Republic of Indonesia, and Kingdom of Cambodia took a respite from work to partake in this indulgent gustatory experience.During her presentation, The Chocolate Queen shared her…

Photo Release EGC-126-202228 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York at the Financial District in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. Consul General Elmer G. Cato, Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer, and others gaze at the Philippine Flag as it is hoisted (Photo by Marc Lacanlale). Photo Release EGC-127-202228 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York at the Financial District in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. Consul General Elmer G. Cato speaks about the first Filipino settlement in the coastal wetlands of Louisiana back in 1587, and how hundreds of years later, the Filipino Community has spread across the United States of America. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) Photo Release EGC-128-202228 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised…

Press Release EGC-031-2022 28 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK History was made when the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York on Friday, 28 October 2022, at Bowling Green Park, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. This is also the first time that New York City Mayor Eric Adams engaged with the Filipino-American Community and the Philippine Consulate General in New York.  In his remarks, Consul General Elmer G. Cato said that the historic flag raising ceremony “is a recognition of the many contributions and achievements of Filipinos to New York City, particularly our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.” He also thanked New York City Mayor Eric Adams “for initiatives to fight hate and discrimination against Filipinos and the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community, such as increasing police visibility, especially in subways.” Consul General Cato concluded by assuring the Mayor of “the full and steadfast support of the Filipino-American Community in helping ensure that New York City remains a beacon of democracy, freedom, and equality.” Mayor Eric Adams, on the other…

Photo Release EGC-120-2022 25 October 2022 MINDANAO'S INDIGENOUS BEARER'S OF CULTURAL HERITAGE PERFORM IN NEW YORK From 20 to 23 October 2022, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month, Sentro Rizal New York and the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York, in collaboration with Kinding Sindaw Hertiage Foundation, and with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, featured master artists and tradition bearers of the Maguindanao, Meranao, Taosug, and Tboli tribes, who performed dances and chanted epics of Mindanao at the La Mama Experimental Theatre Club. Entitled “Posaka: Revisiting Mindanao Through its Master Artists and Cultural Tradition Bearers,” the event aims to put a spotlight on the cultural heritage of Mindanao. Consul General Elmer G. Cato graced the last night of the gala, and said that there is much more to learn about our Muslim Mindanao heritage (Photo by Troi Santos). Photo Release EGC-121-2022 25 October 2022 MINDANAO'S INDIGENOUS BEARER'S OF CULTURAL HERITAGE PERFORM IN NEW YORK From 20 to 23 October 2022, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month, Sentro Rizal New York and the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York, in collaboration with Kinding Sindaw Hertiage Foundation, and with the support of…

Press Release EGC-030-2022 25 October 2022 MINDANAO'S INDIGENOUS BEARERS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE PERFORM IN NEW YORK In commemoration of Filipino-American History Month, the Philippine Consulate General in New York and Sentro Rizal New York, in collaboration with the nonprofit dance theater company, Kinding Sindaw Heritage Foundation, Inc., and with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, showcased a distinct “Posaka” (Sanskrit for “Heirloom”) of the Filipino people – the ritual dances and chanted epics of Mindanao – through a series of performances by master artists and tradition bearers of the Maguindanao, Meranao, Taosug, and Tboli tribes. Entitled “Posaka: Revisiting Mindanao Through its Master Artists and Cultural Tradition Bearers,” the program commenced with a Meet-and-Greet on Friday, 14 October 2022 at the Philippine Center, and culminated in back-to-back performances at the La Mama Experimental Theatre Club in downtown Manhattan from 20 to 23 October 2022. Master artists and tradition bearers Lyn Buti, Leonorah Grande, Airia Askalani Obeso, and Datu Faisal Monal, who traveled all the way from the Philippines, demonstrated the beauty of the culture and arts of Mindanao through their music and dance. A live kulintang ensemble, including various drums and gongs, accompanied each presentation. The program…

Photo Release EGC-116-2022 22 October 2022 CONSULAR OUTREACH IN BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT The Consulate General of the Philippines successfully conducted its second to the last consular outreach activity for the year at St. Gregory’s Church in Bristol, Connecticut on 22 and 23 October 2022. Here, former Philippine citizens are having their petition for reacquisition for Philippine citizenship under Republic Act 9225 evaluated by the Consular Team. (Philippine Consulate General Photo by Ricarte Abejuela III) Photo Release EGC-117-2022 24 October 2022 CONSULAR OUTREACH IN BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT The Consulate General of the Philippines successfully conducted its second to the last consular outreach activity for the year at St. Gregory’s Church in Bristol, Connecticut on 22 and 23 October 2022. The new dual citizens informed the Consulate Team that they were filled with emotion, some even shedding tears, when they sang the Philippine National Anthem. (Philippine Consulate General Photo by Nelvin Eduardo) Photo Release EGC-118-2022 24 October 2022 CONSULAR OUTREACH IN BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT The Consulate General of the Philippines successfully conducted its second to the last consular outreach activity for the year at St. Gregory’s Church in Bristol, Connecticut on 22 and 23 October 2022.  The consular outreach mission was co-sponsored by the Pilipino…

Press Release EGC-029-2022 24 October 2022 NEW YORK PCG CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH ACTIVITY IN BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT The Consulate General of the Philippines winds up its Consular Outreach season for 2022 by travelling to Bristol, Connecticut for its second to the last “Konsulado on the Go” service for the year which benefitted over 200 kababayan. The consular outreach mission was a co-sponsored by the Pilipino Association of Connecticut, Inc., in cooperation with Philippine-American Association of Connecticut and KIDS Philippines. The consular mission provided passport renewal, dual citizenship, civil registry, and notarial services for members of the Filipino community in Connecticut. A total of 205 consular services were extended during the mission in Bristol. Mr. Bienvenido Balaoing of the Pilipino Association of Connecticut, Inc. commended the Consulate Team for an excellent job. “It was a very successful and efficient outreach event. The Filipino community really appreciates the Consulate coming here because our kababayan no longer have to travel all the way to New York to avail of your services,” Mr. Balaoing said. The community and the organizers all look forward to a repeat visit next year. Also joining the outreach mission was Tourism Representative Francisco M. Lardizabal, who shared with kababayan the…

Press Release EGC-028-2022 11 October 2022 HARVARD SQUARE EXPERIENCES FIRST FILIPINO AMERICAN FESTIVAL NEW YORK, 09 October 2022 – In celebration of the Filipino American History Month, the Harvard Square Philippine Alliance (HSPA), in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, held the first Filipino American Festival on October 9, 2022 at Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The event coincided with the 43rd Annual Oktoberfest and Honk Parade. The Consulate delegation was headed by Consul Ricarte Abejuela III, who joined HSPAA organizers in the Honk parade which lasted for almost two hours starting from Davis Square to Harvard Square. The spectators were amazed by the Filipino-American contingents from Cebu Inc, Gingoognons in the USA, and the Mutya Philippine Dance Company of Philadelphia, with their colorful costumes and graceful street dancing. The 43-year annual event, which took place on Church St. and Brattle St., has been hosted in the Square every year since 1978. Several live music stages were set up throughout the Square, featuring an array of bands from Cambridge and beyond. Filipino artists and bands, including social media sensation EZ Mil, performed on a stage located in a Church St. parking lot, alongside booths set up by…

Press Release EGC-027-20226 October 2022 PINAY POWER IN FINANCE SHOWCASED IN NEW YORK New York, 06 October 2022 – As part of the celebration of the Filipino American History Month, the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the International Society of Filipinos in Finance and Accounting (ISFFA) – New York Chapter, held a panel discussion dubbed as “Pinay Power” on Thursday, 05 October 2022 at the Philippine Center.ISFFA NY, established in July 2019, is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public benefit corporation whose primary goal is to assist, educate, train, and mentor emerging professionals, both domestically as well as globally. ISFFA NY is comprised of seasoned professionals from various backgrounds who share the common goal in assisting the growth of Filipinos in the business workforce.The following Pinays served as panelists and shared their respective experiences on how they navigated their careers in an industry underrepresented by Filipinos:Charina Amunategui, Executive Director, Business Execution Fund Financing at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group;Alyssa Trinidad, Lead Examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York within the Supervision Group; andGemma Padchonga, Analyst at Goldman Sachs in Private Wealth Management within the Consumer and Wealth Management Division.The event was attended by New York State Assembly candidate Steven…