PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Photo Release EGC-068-202204 March 2022 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES DONATES BOOKS TO SENTRO RIZAL NEW YORK Former Deputy Director General of the National Museum of the Philippines, Dr. Ana Maria Theresa P. Labrador (second from the left), turns over books to Sentro Rizal New York to add to its Filipiniana collection on Wednesday, 02 March 2022. Books donated include topics on the artistry of Philippine textiles, Philippine Natural history, and Philippine Art, among others. “I encourage all second and third generations of Filipino Americans to come visit Sentro Rizal New York to learn about your Philippine heritage,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato (second from the right). Also in the photo are Deputy Consul General Arman R. Talbo (leftmost) and Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro (rightmost). (Photo by Marianne Olfindo)

Photo Release EGC-067-202201 March 2022 PCG NEW YORK KICKS OFF NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION In support of the strides that women continue to make to achieve gender equality and to recognize the accomplishments of women throughout history, personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in New York don the color purple on Monday, 01 March 2022, the start of National Women’s Month. Purple has been historically associated with women empowerment. The Philippine Consulate General in New York has a lot in store this month to honor women such as an essay writing contest on how Filipino-American women are agents of change, and the Philippine Consulate’s annual flagship program, An Evening with Distinguished Filipino Women. Mabuhay ang Ating mga Kababaihan! (Photo by Vanessa de Castro)

Press Release EGC-016-20221 March 2022 SENTRO RIZAL NEW YORK LAUNCHES BAYANI SERIES Sentro Rizal New York, under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, officially began its cultural diplomacy initiatives with the maiden episode of its “Bayani Series” on Friday, 18 February. This first episode gives a glimpse of the social life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and how his interactions with fellow reformists have influenced and enriched his way of thinking, and shaped the hero that he came to be. (Flyer by Mae Ermita Manubay) NEW YORK - Sentro Rizal New York, under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, officially began its cultural diplomacy initiatives with the maiden episode of its “Bayani Series” on Friday, 18 February.Entitled “Rizal in the Company of Heroes: The Adventures of Rizal Among the Filipino Reformists,” Assistant Professor Augusto V. de Viana of the History Department of the University of Santo Tomas who is a member of the technical panel for history of the Commission on Higher Education and the co-founder of the International Council for Historical and Cultural Cooperation in Southeast Asia, served as resource person. During his presentation, Assistant Professor de Viana first gave…

Photo Release EGC-061-20221 March 2022 NEW YORK ASSEMBLYMAN CYMBROWITZ WELCOMES DISCUSSION WITH PCGNY New York Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz has welcomed the efforts of the Philippine Consulate General to reach out and meet leaders of the State Assembly and other officials. The Brooklyn legislator met virtually with Consul General Elmer G. Cato on 22 February 2022. In that meeting, Consul General Cato expressed the Consulate’s desire to strengthen its relations with local officials. (Photo by Margarita Manubay)

Press Release EGC-015-202228 February 2022 US CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WELCOMES PCGNY OUTREACH EFFORTS Reverend Alfred Charles Sharpton (rightmost) expressses his interest to bring communities together during the courtesy call of Consul General Elmer G. Cato (third from left) at the National Action Network Office in Times Square on Wednesday, 23 February 2022. Also in the photo are Michael A. Hardy, General Counsel of the National Action Network (leftmost) and Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro (Photo by National Action Network staff) NEW YORK - American civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton has applauded the efforts of the Philippine Consulate General in New York to reach out to other communities to address the surge in hate crimes. The American civil rights activist, who is also one of the leaders of the African-American Community in the United States, welcomed the Consulate's initiative to encourage dialogue among those affected by racism and bias during a courtesy call by Consul General Elmer G. Cato."We can only combat hate if all communities stand united against hate," Consul General Elmer G. Cato told Reverend Sharpton during their meeting at the National Action Network (NAN) office in New York City on Wednesday, 23 February 2022.Consul Genera Cato requested…

Press Release EGC-014-2022 26 February 2022 WORLD-CLASS FILIPINO CHOCOLATE BRAND MAKING ITS MARK IN NEW YORK Mark Mendoza Ocampo, co-founder and Managing Director of Auro Chocolate, the internationally awarded premium bean-to-bar chocolate brand of the Philippines, describes to Consul General Elmer G. Cato the variety of chocolates the company offers during a courtesy call at the Philippine Consulate General in New York on Wednesday, 16 February. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) NEW YORK - Auro Chocolate, the internationally awarded premium bean-to-bar chocolate brand, proudly made in the Philippines, is making headway in New York City.  Auro Chocolate Co-founder and Managing Director Mark Mendoza Ocampo has expressed the company’s desire to strengthen its presence in the American market during a courtesy call on Consul General Elmer G. Cato at the Philippine Consulate General in New York on Wednesday, 16 February. “We are now in search of bigger distributors for Auro here in the United States.” Mendoza said.  Committed to empowering cacao farmers in the Philippines, Auro Chocolate has been partnering directly with farms and cooperatives. The Filipino confectionary brand currently supplies to over 30 countries worldwide, including the United States. “Cacao has been in the Philippines for over 300 years…

Press Release EGC-013-202225 February 2022 PILI OIL-INFUSED PHILIPPINE SKIN CARE LINE OFFERS SOMETHING UNIQUE TO NEW YORKERS PILI OIL-INFUSED PHILIPPINE SKIN CARE LINE PENETRATES US MARKET: Ana Amigo Antonio (left), the North American representative of Pili Ani, explains the benefits of Pili Ani’s skincare products to Consul General Elmer G. Cato (center) during the latter’s visit at a pop-up store in SoHo on Thursday, 10 February. Pili Ani, a pioneering Filipino skincare line is the only brand in the world that uses pili and elemi oils in all of its beauty products. These oils are extracted from Pili trees that can only grow in Bicol. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) NEW YORK - A pioneering Philippine skincare line established six years ago and the only brand in the world that uses pili and elemi oils in all its beauty products has been successfully penetrating the United States market.Pili Ani has been making its presence felt in the US since it debuted on the popular Home Shopping Network Channel last year. Just recently, it began its efforts to reach out to more New Yorkers with its recent pop-up store in SoHo during New York Fashion Week.Ana Amigo Antonio, Pili Ani’s…

Press Release EGC-012-202225 February 2022 PCG NEW YORK WELCOMES ADDED PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS NEW YORK - The Philippine Consulate General in New York has welcomed the expanded protection that Filipinos and other domestic workers who live or work in New York City will now enjoy as a result of recent initiatives by local and state authorities. “The Philippine Consulate General welcomes these positive developments that will improve employment security and enhance work benefits of kababayan employed in the household service industry,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said in a statement. The Consul General was referring to two recent legislations signed into law by New York Governor Kathleen Hochul and then New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio last year. The landmark law signed by Governor Hochul on 31 December 2021 legally considers domestic workers as “employees” for all intents and purposes under the New York State Human Rights Law while Intro 39 signed by then Mayor Bill de Blasio on 25 August 2021, extends anti-discrimination protections to domestic workers of New York City. Domestic workers are individuals employed at a home or residence as housekeepers, nannies, home healthcare aides, or similar positions. A person does not need to live with their employer to…

Press Release EGC-011-202225 February 2022 NEW YORK CITY’S TRAILBLAZING DEPUTY MAYOR WANTS TO RECONNECT WITH HER FILIPINO ROOTS FIL-AM DEPUTY MAYOR TORRES-SPRINGER MEETS CONGEN CATO. New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development, Maria Torres-Springer, listens to Consul General Elmer G. Cato speak about the Philippine Consulate’s initiatives towards strengthening Filipino community empowerment during the latter’s courtesy call on Monday, 07 February 2022 at the City Hall. (Photo by Beverly Pellosis) NEW YORK - Maria Torres-Springer, the Filipina-American deputy mayor of New York who was put in charge of ensuring the economic recovery of the city in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, is looking forward to reconnecting with her roots. As Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development, Torres-Springer is considered to be one of the most powerful Filipino-Americans in the United States Northeast. She was among the first officials to be appointed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams after he won his election bid in December. Saying she has been away for a long time, the 44-year-old daughter of Filipino immigrants expressed her desire to visit the Philippines again soon with her husband and their two daughters. Born in Los Angeles, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer’s father was from…