PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Press Release 6 February 2021 THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK HOLDS ITS SPECIAL CONSULATE SATURDAY To enforce physical distancing measures, clients are only allowed to proceed to the waiting area in small groups. (Photo by NYPCG) 06 February 2021, New York City – The Philippine Consulate General in New York (PCGNY) held a special Consulate Saturday today to accommodate our kababayans whose booked appointments were canceled on 01 and 02 February, as a result of the winter snow storm and in compliance with New York City’s declaration of a state of emergency. A total of 122 (One Hundred Twenty-Two) consular services were rendered.   In support of PCGNY’s efforts, the SSS desk was also open to entertain inquiries on pension and other benefits. The usual COVID-19 health and safety protocols were enforced during the said Consulate Saturday, including wearing face masks, exercising physical distancing, and practicing hand hygiene. For announcements on the schedule of PCGNY’s regular Consulate Saturdays for the year, please regularly visit its official website, www.newyorkpcg.org and its official Facebook Page (https://facebook.comPHLinNY) for updates. PCGNY requires clients to book an appointment by visiting https://newyorkpcg.org/our-services/online-appointment-system. Walk-ins are no longer entertained. END Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro…

Press Release 22 January 2021 PR-PPG-002-2021 PH Consul General in New York Completes Tour of Duty 22 January 2021, New York – Consul General Petronila P. Garcia completes her tour of duty at the Philippine Consulate General in New York today and retires from the foreign service after faithfully and ably serving the country and our people for more than 40 years. Consul General Garcia's successful and productive career as diplomat started in 1978 when she joined the Department of Foreign Affairs. Prior to her assignment in New York, she served as the Philippine Ambassador to Canada from January 2014 to September 2020, becoming the first female Philippine Ambassador to Canada since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1949. She also served as the Philippine Ambassador to Israel from 2007 to 2011 and the first woman Ambassador assigned by the Philippines to an Arab country, the Arab Republic of Egypt, with concurrent jurisdiction over Sudan from 2004 to 2007. As a young foreign service officer, she served in different capacities in other foreign service posts, as well as in the Home Office in Manila. Consul General Garcia thanks the Filipino-American community in the US Northeast for their support…

Press Release 14 January 2021PR-PPG-001-2021 Philippine Consul General in New York Receives PPE Donation Consul General Petronila P. Garcia (center) receives the donation of face masks and face shields for the Fil-Am community from Mr. Fernando Mendez (left) and Ms. Laura Garcia (right). (Photo by NYPCG) New York, January 14- Consul General Petronila P. Garcia received today a donation of 2,000 face masks and 200 face shields from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations-New York (NaFFAA-NY), represented by State chair Laura Garcia, and Fiesta in America, represented by its president Fernando Mendez. These PPE were solicited by NaFFAA-NY and Fiesta in America from the New York City Mayor's Office for the use of the Filipino-American community.  The donated items will be distributed to Filipinos and clients coming to the Philippine Center who need face mask or face shield.Since the reopening of the Consulate on 12 June 2020 after the lifting of the lockdown in NYC, the wearing of face mask inside the Philippine Center has been made mandatory as advised by health authorities to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Consul General Garcia emphasized the importance of following health protocols, including temperature check and hand sanitizing, when visiting the Philippine…

Press Release 9 December 2020 PR-PPG-007-2020 Filipino Christmas Kicks Off in New York With Simbang Gabi, Parols The glass window display of the Philippine Center in New York brings the warm Filipino Christmas spirit to the Big Apple. (Photo by NYPCG) New York, December 9.- The Filipino community in New York and the entire US Northeast officially started their Christmas celebration with the lighting of the colorful parols and the Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado (Night Mass) at the Philippine Center in New York City on 3 December 2020. Every year, the Philippine Center decorates its windows and lobby with parols (traditional Christmas lanterns) and handcrafted items to bring the spirit of the joyful Filipino Christmas to the Big Apple. The Simbang Gabi, on the other hand, is a nine-day series of masses leading up to Christmas and traditionally celebrated in the hours before dawn. Consul General Petronila P. Garcia led the ceremonial lighting of the first of nine symbolic parols. One parol will be lit every evening, for nine days of the traditional Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado. In her welcome remarks, Consul General Garcia extended her Christmas greetings to the 340,000-strong Filipino-American community in the U.S. Northeast, and thanked them…

Press Release 25 November 2020 PR-PPG-006-2020 The Philippine Consulate General in New York Kicks Off the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women Personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in NY wear orange cloth masks, orange being the official color of the anti-Violence Against Women (VAW) Campaign, as a show of support to the cause. (Photo by NYPCCG). 25 November 2020, New York – Personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in New York (PCGNY) wore orange face masks in observance of the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW). The campaign began on 25 November, and will end on 12 December.  Orange face masks were also given away to clients during the first day of the campaign.In addition to the masks, information on the campaign along with orange-themed giveaways have been placed at the Philippine Center’s entrance in order to increase public awareness about the 18-day campaign to end VAW.As studies have shown that incidents of gender-based violence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic,[1] the theme, “VAW-free Community Starts With me,” is particularly relevant this year. It is hoped that through this Campaign, everyone acquires a personal stake in ending VAW.“The Philippine Consulate General in New York is committed to…

Press Release 19 November 2020 PR-PPG-005-2020 PH Consul General in New York Meets Fil-Ams in the Academe Consul General Petronila P. Garcia (top center) met with Fil-Am members of the academe in the US Northeast last 14 November. 14 November 2020, New York –Philippine Consul General in New York Petronila P. Garcia participated in a virtual meeting last 14 November with Fil-Ams in the academe based in the US Northeast.  The meeting was participated in by 28 members of the Philippine Academic Association Northeast (PAANE) which is composed of professors, deans, researchers, members of the faculty, and college and university officials in the 10 States under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in New York (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont). In her remarks, Consul General Garcia said that PPANE can serve as an avenue for exchanging ideas, sharing resources, and collaborating for a common objective, not only for those in the US Northeast but also their counterparts in the Philippines. She assured the members that the Consulate General in New York will be their partner in supporting professional networking and harnessing the potentials of Filipino-Americans scholars, researchers, and academics.…

Press Release 16 November 2020 PR-PPG-004-2020 The Philippine Consulate General in New York Holds Its Second to the Last Consulate Saturday of 2020 Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro administers the oath of allegiance of those who applied for dual citizenship. (Photo by NYPCG) 16 November 2020, New York City – The Philippine Consulate General in New York (PCGNY) held its second to the last Consulate Saturday of the year on 14 November 2020. A total of 76 (seventy-six) applications were processed.   In addition to the usual consular services, the SSS desk was also open to entertain inquiries on pension and other benefits. To enforce physical distancing measures and to minimize the risk of infection, PCGNY requires clients to book an appointment by visiting https://newyorkpcg.org/our-services/online-appointment-system. Walk-ins are no longer entertained. While the rest of the Consular Outreach missions for 2020 have been postponed to protect the health and safety of our kababayans and personnel, PCGNY intends to restore its Consular Outreach program next year, should conditions allow. The last Consulate Saturday of 2020 is on 12 December 2020. END To enforce physical distancing measures, clients are only allowed to proceed to the waiting area in small groups. (Photo by NYPCG)

Press Release 30 October 2020 PR-PPG-003-2020 PH Consul General in New York Meets Fil-Am Community and Media Consul General Petronila P. Garcia (top row, center), together with other Consulate officials, engages Fil-Am media practitioners in her first ConGen Media Hour in New York. 28 October 2020, New York – Newly-arrived Philippine Consul General in New York Petronila P. Garcia hosted virtual meetings with Fil-Am community leaders and media practitioners last 28 October 2020 in New York.  Consul General Garcia first had a productive discussion with 16 members of the Fil-Am Press Club of New York headed by its president Don Tagala of The Filipino Channel during her inaugural ConGen Media Hour. The Consul General outlined the priorities and programs of the Consulate for the rest of the year, with emphasis on further enhancing services for Filipinos in the 10 States under the jurisdiction of the Consulate in New York to better cope with the challenges of the pandemic. “Let me emphasize that the Consulate is dedicated to deliver services to the public, but that we also must ensure that our clients, and our staff, do so in a manner that minimizes exposure and avoids unnecessary risks. We are not out…

Press Release 26 October 2020PR-PPG-002-2020 PH Consulate in New York Marks Fil-Am History Month with Virtual Taste of the Philippines Consul Arman Talbo (2nd from left on 3rd row) and PACCGP president Brad Baldia, together with the chefs and attendees toast during the virtual Taste of the Philippines event. (Photo by PCGNY) 21 October 2020, New York – As part of the month-long celebration of Filipino-American History Month, the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia (PACCGP) hosted the Virtual Taste of the Philippines on 10 October 2020 at 2:00 pm via the Consulate’s Facebook page.Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez in his brief remarks said, “Fil-Am History Month highlights the valuable contributions of Filipino Americans in the economic and social growth of the United States.” He recognized how Filipino-Americans answered the call to be at the frontlines in fighting the coronavirus pandemic in healthcare, law enforcement, military and other essential services. Ambassador Romualdez encouraged viewers to support Filipino-American restaurants and the food service industry which are among the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic.As the virtual event featured cooking demonstrations from four renowned Filipino-American chefs, Deputy Consul General Kerwin Tate underscored that…

Press Release 20 October 2020 PR-PPG-001-2020 Ms. Petronila P. Garcia Is New Philippine Consul General in New York Ms. Petronila P. Garcia is a career diplomat and brings with her 40 years of experience in the Philippine foreign service. 17 October 2020, New York – Ms. Petronila P. Garcia officially assumed today her post as Philippine Consul General in New York. Ms. Garcia is a career diplomat with the rank of Chief of Mission I who has served the government for 40 years. She previously served as the Philippine Ambassador to Canada from January 2014 to September 2020, becoming the first female Philippine Ambassador to Canada since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1949. She also served as the Philippine Ambassador to Israel from 2007 to 2011 and the first woman Ambassador assigned by the Philippines to an Arab country, the Arab Republic of Egypt, with concurrent jurisdiction over Sudan from 2004 to 2007. Her other foreign assignments include the following: Minister and Chargé d'affaires, a.i. at the Philippine Embassy in South Korea from 1997 to 1999; Counsellor and Chargé d'affaires, a.i. at the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa from 1995 to 1997; Counsellor at the Philippine…