PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Press Release 18 June 2021 Filipino Graduates Honored By Philippine Consulate in New York The graduates of the 2021 PGrad, together with Consul General Elmer G. Cato, Deputy Consul General Arman R. Talbo, and Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro pose for a souvenir shot (Photo by NYPCG). 17 June 2021, New York City – Five summa cum laudes, four magna cum laudes, two cum laudes and a set of triplets were among the 36 Filipino graduates in the United States who were honored by the Philippine Consulate General in New York in a virtual graduation ceremony on Wednesday, 16 June 2021. “May this 2021 Philippine Graduation Ceremony further inspire you, our graduates, to strive to fulfill your goals, and to assume your role in nation-building, both here in the US which is your 2nd home, and in the Philippines, which will always be waiting for your return,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said during the 8th Philippine Graduation or PGrad, an annual project of the Philippine Consulate General that honors Filipinos based in the United States who have graduated from colleges and universities. This year, graduates from as far as Nevada were among those who participated in the ceremony…

Press Release 12 April 2021 Filipino Fallen Heroes, Front Liners Honored at 79th Commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan in New Jersey (R-L) Consul General Elmer G. Cato, Ms. Nida Imperial of the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia (FECGP)and Deputy Consul General Arman R. Talbo during the 79th Commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan at the Bataan Death March Memorial in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. (Photo by PCGNY) 12 April 2021, New York – The Philippine Consulate General in New York paid homage to the bravery and sacrifices of Filipinos who fought in the Second World War and the estimated 150,000 Filipino healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in the United States during the 79th Commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan on Saturday, 10 April 2021. Consul General Elmer Cato said in his remarks that “The events that transpired almost seven decades ago still echoes to this day as both Filipinos and Americans fight a common enemy, and through this shared history of comradeship, our ties are made strong like tempered steel,” during ceremonies at the Bataan Death March Memorial. He said that Filipino healthcare workers today have displayed the same Kagitingan as they fight a similar threat that endangers the lives…

Press Release 15 April 2021 IBF Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas Calls on Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato (L) IBF Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas and (R) Consul General Elmer G. Cato 15 April 2021, New York - International Boxing Federation Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas paid a courtesy call on Consul General Elmer G. Cato after successfully defending his title against Mexican challenger, Jonathan Rodriguez, on Saturday, 10 April 2021, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. It was the 29-year old Ancajas’ ninth successful defense of the belt, which he won in 2016.Featherweight boxer Mark Magsayo who also knocked down his Nicaraguan opponent Pablo Cruz, was also present during the call. During the meeting, Consul General Cato took the opportunity to apprise the group on the Asian Hate situation in New York and nearby areas and informed them of the efforts of the consulate to assist our kababayan. He also congratulated the two boxers on their victories and offered the support of the Consulate and the Filipino community in their future fights.- END (L-R) Consul General Elmer G. Cato, IBF Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas, Featherweight boxer Mark Magsayoand Deputy Consul General Arman R. Talbo during the courtesy call at the Philippine Center in…

Press Release 30 March 2021 Former Philippine Envoy to Libya is now Consul General in New York Journalist-diplomat, Mr. Elmer G. Cato, is now the Consul General of the Philippine Consulate General in New York. 30 March 2021, New York – Journalist-diplomat, Elmer G. Cato, officially assumed today as Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York. A career diplomat with the rank of Chief of Mission Class II, Consul General Cato succeeds Consul General Petronila P. Garcia who retired in January. Consul General Cato arrived this afternoon from Libya where he served for two years as Chargé d’Affaires, e.p. and Head of Mission of the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli. A journalist before joining the foreign service, Consul General Cato had served in various capacities in the Philippines and abroad in the past 22 years. His first overseas posting was at the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations from 2003 to 2010 where he also served as a member of the Philippine Delegation to the UN Security Council from 2004 to 2005. Consul General Cato was assigned to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. from 2012 until he volunteered to go to Iraq where…

Press Release 29 March 2021 PH Consulate General Hosts Pag-IBIG and SSS Webinar (Top-bottom, L-R) Consul Arman R. Talbo, Pag-IBIG Marketing Officer Ana Karina Z. Ortiz and SSS NY Representative Celenia Dimaano-Lacro. (Photo by NYPCG) 29 March 2021, New York – The Philippine Consulate General in New York hosted a virtual event entitled Pag-IBIG Fund and SSS Webinar for Filipinos in the US Northeast last Friday, 26 March 2021 at 7PM (EDT). The webinar featured two speakers, namely: Ms. Ana Karina Z. Ortiz, Marketing Officer – Virtual Office – New York, Pag-IBIG Fund International Operations Group and Ms. Celenia Dimaano-Lacro, SSS New York Representative. They provided presentations on the programs and benefits that their respective offices offer to overseas Filipinos. After the presentations of the speakers, Fil-Am community members in the US northeast who joined the webinar via Zoom and through the New York PCG’s Facebook page /PHLinNY were given the opportunity to ask questions which were answered directly by the resource persons. The virtual event was moderated by Consul Arman R. Talbo. – END