Public Advisory: Winter Weather Advisory for NYC

Public Advisory 004-2022 10 January 2022 WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NYC The Philippine Consulate General in New York would like to inform members of the Filipino Community in the United States northeast to prepare for freezing temperatures starting tonight that has not been experienced in years. The temperature in New York City is forecasted to dip to 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8 degrees Celsius) by early Tuesday, 11 January 2022, and weather will be bitterly cold, breezy, and sunny for the rest of the day. Kababayan are encouraged to stay indoors, or to bundle up, if they need to go out, and to check on the vulnerable, such as the elderly, and those with health risks.

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PCG New York Hopes to See Decline in Hate Incidents in 2022

Press Release EGC-006-202210 January 2022 PCG NEW YORK HOPES TO SEE DECLINE IN HATE INCIDENTS IN 2022 Consul General Elmer G. Cato joined Sen. Chuck Schumer and other officials in an emergency press conference organized by the Asian-American Federation on 19 August 2021 in response to the latest anti-Asian hate incidents involving two leaders of the Filipino Community in New York. (Photo by Beverly Pellosis) New York, 10 January 2022 - The Philippine Consulate General in New York is hoping to see a downtrend in hate crimes and other incidents that have targeted members of the Asian-American Community with the assumption of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer who promised to make the streets safe again.“We are one with the Asian-American Community in expressing hope that under the leadership of Mayor Adams, the streets of New York City will once again be safe for everyone,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said.“We fully support the plans of Mayor Adams to not only ensure that every District Attorney’s Office would have a robust hate crime unit but to also increase the resources of the Asian Hate Crimes Task Force of the New York City Police Department (NYPD),” Consul…

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Public Advisory: Information Request on Bronx Fire

Public Advisory 003-202209 January 2022 INFORMATION REQUEST ON BRONX FIRE New York, 09 January 2022 - The Philippine Consulate General in New York is trying to ascertain if members of the Filipino Community are among those affected by the fire this morning at an apartment building in the Bronx that claimed the lives of 19 people, including nine children, and injured at least 63 others. Kababayan are requested to let the Consulate know if they have information on possible Filipino casualties. The Consulate extends its condolences to the loved ones of those who perished in the fire and prays for the immediate recovery of the injured.

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Public Advisory: Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Tristate Area

Public Advisory 002-202209 January 2022 WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ISSUED FOR TRISTATE AREA New York, 09 January 2022 - The Philippine Consulate General would like to inform the Filipino Community that a winter weather advisory covering the entire tristate area, except New York City, Long Island, and the Jersey Shore has been issued. The advisory, which goes into effect Sunday morning, warns of the potential for freezing rain and even some sleet for most of the tristate area. Kababayan are urged to exercise caution if they are traveling as roads could become slippery and create dangerous driving conditions if ice forms on untreated surfaces. 

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PCG New York and Knights of Rizal Commemorate Rizal Day

Photo Release EGC-010-2022 7 January 2022 PCG NEW YORK AND KNIGHTS OF RIZAL COMMEMORATE RIZAL DAY Consul General Elmer G. Cato, and officers of the Knights of Rizal Eastern Region, led by Atty. Ferdinand Suba, take part in a rose ceremony to mark the 125th anniversary of the martyrdom of national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal at the Philippine Center on Thursday, 06 January 2022 (Photo by Margarita Ermita-Manubay) Photo Release EGC-011-20227 January 2022 Atty. Ferdinand Suba, Trustee of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Rizal, lead other members of the Knights of Rizal Eastern Region in offering long stem white roses at the bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal at the Philippine Center on Thursday, 06 January 2022 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the martyrdom of the national hero. (Photo by Margarita Ermita-Manubay) Photo Release EGC-012-20227 January 2022 Consul General Elmer G. Cato (6th from left), Atty. Ferdinand Suba, Trustee of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Rizal (4th from left), and Chairman Arsenio J. Lizaso of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (5th from left), and other members of the Knights of Rizal Eastern Region gather before the Sentro Rizal marker following the inauguration…

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Public Advisory: Winter Weather Advisory in Effect in Manhattan, Southeast New York, Northeast New Jersey

Public Advisory 001-202207 January 2022 WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT IN MANHATTAN, SOUTHEAST NEW YORK, NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY New York, 07 January 2022 - A winter weather advisory is in effect in Manhattan and other parts of southeast New York and portions of northeast New Jersey until noon of Friday, 7 January 2022. From three to five inches of snow is expected in the aforesaid areas. Kababayan who have scheduled appointments for consular services at the Philippine Consulate General in New York are advised to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safe travel to the Philippine Center and back to their residences.

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Sentro Rizal in New York Inaugurated

Press Release EGC-005-2022 6 January 2022  SENTRO RIZAL IN NEW YORK INAUGURATED Consul General Elmer G. Cato (second from right), and Chairperson Arsenio J. Lizaso of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (second from left) unveil the Sentro Rizal marker at the Philippine Center on Thursday, 06 January 2022. Witnessing the event are Ms. Maria Luisa Tinio Bayot, a descendant of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and Deputy Consul General Arman R. Talbo. The Sentro Rizal New York is the 36th such center in the world, and the 7th in the United States. It will be at the forefront of cultural diplomacy efforts of the Consulate at the United States northeast. (Photo by Federico A. Silao, Jr.) New York, 06 January 2022 - The Philippine Consulate General in New York received a big boost in its cultural diplomacy efforts with the inauguration of the Sentro Rizal at the Philippine Center in Manhattan on Thursday, 6 January 2021.The Sentro Rizal New York was launched in simple ceremonies led by Consul General Elmer G. Cato and Chairperson Arsenio J. Lizaso of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and attended by members of the Filipino Community. “Sentro Rizal serves as a…

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Filipina-American Named Deputy Mayor of New York City

Press Release EGC-004-20225 January 2022 FILIPINA-AMERICAN NAMED DEPUTY MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY Filipino-American Maria Torres-Springer, third from right, was among five deputy mayors appointed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams to help him govern the largest city in the United States. New York, 05 January 2022 - A 44-year-old daughter of immigrants from the Philippines is one of two Asian-Americans who took their seats as deputy mayor of the largest city in the United States.  Maria Torres-Springer officially assumed her position as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding of New York City on Monday. She is the first Filipino-American to occupy such an important position.Torres-Springer took office two weeks after she was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams who gave her the task of overseeing New York City’s recovery from the economic fallout brought about by the coranavirus pandemic. Torres-Springer was among five deputy mayors appointed by Adams following his election victory last month. Also appointed was  Meera Joshi, a civil servant of South Asian descent, who was named Deputy Mayor for Operations. “We join the Filipino Community in New York in congratulating one of our own on her assumption as deputy mayor of one of the more important cities…

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Former Youth Leader is First Filipino to Win City Council Bid in MA

Press Release EGC-003-2022 5 January 2022 FORMER YOUTH LEADER IS FIRST FILIPINO TO WIN CITY COUNCIL BID IN NEW ENGLAND Former youth leader, Constantino "Coco" Alinsug, seated first from left, joins other elected City Council officials of Lyn, Massachusetts. New York, 05 January 2022 - A former youth leader in the Philippines has earned for himself the distinction of being the first Filipino to be elected to a city council seat in New England, the Philippine Consulate General in New York reported. Constantino “Coco” Alinsug, 50, was sworn in on Monday after winning his bid for a seat in the City Council of Lynn, Massachusetts, in elections held in November. He represents Ward 3 in the city, located 15 minute north of Boston. Alinsug, who is a community worker and LGBT rights advocate, is also the first openly gay political candidate to make it to the city council. He previously served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth. “Your feat is worthy of commendation as you are one of a few Filipinos who have been successful in their political aspirations here in the United States,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said in a letter of congratulations sent to…

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Despite Omicron Threat, PCG New York to Continue Serving Public

Press Release EGC-002-2022 5 January 2022 DESPITE OMICRON THREAT, PCG NEW YORK TO CONTINUE SERVING PUBLIC New York, 05 January 2022 - Despite the record-breaking surge in coronavirus cases in New York, the Philippine Consulate General said it would do everything it can to ensure the continued delivery of consular services to members of the Filipino Community in the United States northeast.“Even with the omicron variant wreaking havoc in New York and other parts of the United States, we can be counted upon to continue serving our kababayan,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said shortly after the United States reported 1 million coronavirus cases—the highest reported by a country in a single day since the pandemic broke out in 2020.“We would like to assure our kababayan that we will exert all efforts to not only keep our consular operations going the way we did in the past year but also in improving the way we deliver these services,” he said.Although the omicron threat had forced the Consulate to cancel several scheduled cultural events last month and implement stricter coronavirus protocols for the public, Consul General Cato said consular services have not been scaled down.In fact, the Consulate is expecting to…

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