PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Philippine Consulate General in New York Maps the Filipino Soul through "Lasa at Salaysay" Culinary Showcase A diverse group of guests, including several Consuls General in New York, enjoy the menu prepared by the partner chefs. NEW YORK, 28 April 2026 — The Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall was filled with the vibrant aromas of the archipelago on April 27, 2026, as the Philippine Consulate General in New York hosted “Lasa at Salaysay: Taste Across Borders.” The event served as a cornerstone of Filipino Food Month 2026, marking a sophisticated fusion of gastronomy and cultural diplomacy.Under the 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, “Connected by Taste: The Filipino Food in the Flavors of ASEAN,” the showcase explored the deep-rooted connections between Filipino culinary heritage and the broader Southeast Asian landscape. Consul General Senen Mangalile opened the afternoon by emphasizing that the luncheon was more than a meal, describing it as an act of cultural diplomacy that highlights the narratives and creative spirit defining Filipino identity in New York City. Dishes highlighting three iconic Philippine ingredients: coconut milk, calamansi, and ube were served during the event. Upper row, from left to right Sugba and Kilawin from the Sutukil dish by Naks (Tuwa not shown…

PH Grassroots Coalition Wins Global Cities Prize for Transport Reform Left photo: Representatives of the Move As One Coalition receive the symbolic check for the US$250,000 grand prize at the 2025-2026 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities ceremony in New York City. Right photo: The finalists pose for a group photo with the organizers. NEW YORK, 23 April 2026 – The Move As One Coalition, a Philippine-based grassroots and youth-led movement, won the grand prize in the 2025-2026 World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center Prize for Cities during awarding ceremonies held on 20 April 2026 at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City.The WRI recognized the coalition for mobilizing public support and policy action in favor of safer streets, expanded active transport infrastructure, and more inclusive public transport. It also cited the coalition’s contributions to improved pay and working conditions for more than 100,000 transport workers, the expansion of protected bike lanes, and increased investment in safer and more reliable mobility systems.Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Move As One Coalition grew from a Manila-based initiative into a national movement bringing together commuters, transport workers, and other advocates in support of more reliable and accessible transport…

New York PCG Marks Immigrant Heritage Week with Historic Walk-About in “Little Manila” Neighborhood Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (left) and Ms. Amanda J. Reffsin, Director of Strategic Relationships, Middle East & Asia, of the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs (center) engage with one of the Filipino business owners in “Little Manila.” NEW YORK CITY, 16 April 2026 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, accompanied by officials from the Consulate, the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, and the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs, visited several Filipino-owned businesses and dialogued with Filipino community members at a walk-about around the “Little Manila” enclave in New York City’s Queens Borough on 16 April 2026.  The activity served to observe the 22nd Annual Immigrant Heritage Week declared by the New York City Government on 13-20 April 2026. The walk-about enabled members of the Filipino immigrant community to meet officials from the Consulate and the Mayor’s Office in their neighborhood and to share their concerns as well as their personal experiences in their place of business. Filipino-owned businesses and Filipino community members shared concerns on immigration policies, community engagement, peace and order, sanitation, and ease of doing business. Representatives from the Mayor’s Office also shared information on…

“Eight Decades Of Harmony”: Philippine Consulate General, New York City Opera, and Manhattan School of Music Celebrate 80 Years of PH-US Relations in Landmark Concert NEW YORK, 14 April 2026 — In a resonant display of cultural diplomacy, the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the New York City Opera (NYCO), and the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) presented "Eight Decades of Harmony" on 13 April 2026. Held at the Miller Recital Hall of MSM, the concert served as the centerpiece for the 80th anniversary of Philippine-United States diplomatic relations and the 250th anniversary of American independence. Artists from the New York City Opera, including Kristina Reiko Cooper on cello and Vladimir Petrov on piano, performed European orchestral pieces, while Opera singer Kirstin Sampson performed songs from Broadway (Photos by Sherlyn Roxas). More than a musical showcase, the event served as a profound testament to the ties that form the true bedrock of the bilateral relationship. Addressing a capacity audience of diplomats, cultural leaders, and the Filipino-American community, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile remarked, “Music has a unique way of articulating what diplomacy sometimes cannot. The bond between our two nations is not found in the ink of a treaty,…

Philippine Consulate General in New York Honors Filipino Bravery and WWII Heroes at 84th Day of Valor Commemoration NEW YORK, 10 April 2026 — The Philippine Consulate General in New York marked the 84th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) with a commemorative program held on April 8, 2026 at Kalayaan Hall in the Philippine Center. The event, titled "Valor Across Centuries: 80 Years of PH-US Ties and Evolution of the Filipino Hero," took place within the context of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States. The program explored the lineage of Kagitingan (valor) through a three-part narrative. Consul General Senen T. Mangalile opened the session by tracing the foundations of Philippine sovereignty to the revolutionary era. Col. Sonny Busa, Regional Director for the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), followed with a focus on the shared sacrifices at Bataan and Corregidor as the bedrock of the 80-year PH-US partnership. The session concluded with Col. Ralph Hibionada, Military and Police Adviser to the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN, who highlighted the 21st-century heroism of peacekeepers, global essential workers, and the diaspora community. Following a musical interlude by singer-songwriter Mark Anthony…

Philippine Consul General and New York Consular Corps Strengthen Cooperation with NYPD Members of the diplomatic community attend briefings by the New York Police Department Community Affairs Bureau, Public Security Section, and Intelligence Bureau during a presentation at One Police Plaza in New York City. (Photos by Ms. Nikka Arenal) NEW YORK CITY, 31 March 2026 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile joined members of the consular corps in a meet and greet session with the New York Police Department (NYPD). The session was followed by a guided tour of NYPD’s Joint Operation Center at One Police Plaza in New York City.Organized by NYPD, in partnership with the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York (SOFCNY), the engagement provided an overview of the NYPD’s command, control, and coordination mechanism, including how the Joint Operation Center sustains real-time monitoring and response to incidents across the city. Members of the consular corps observe the facilities of NYPD’s Joint Operation Center at One Police Plaza. (Photos by Ms. Nikka Arenal) NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner, in her welcome remarks, emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the New York Police Department and the diplomatic community, noting that the initiative…

New York PCG and Philippine Airlines Strengthens Partnership to Boost Philippine Tourism (left to right) Mr. Goldwyn Salazar, Mr. Jose Maria “Chema” Alvarado, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, Mr. Syed Shahid, Ms. Aleana Sol Cruz, and Ms. Katherine Alcantara discuss areas of collaboration to boost tourism between the Philippines and North America. (Photo by Ms. Marianne Olfindo) NEW YORK CITY, 30 March 2026 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile received officials of Philippine Airlines (PAL) at the Philippine Center in New York for a courtesy visit to discuss areas of cooperation to promote Philippine tourism.The PAL delegation included Mr. Jose Maria “Chema” Alvarado, the new Regional Head for North America, and Ms. Aleana Sol Cruz, the new Account Manager for New York. Mr. Alvarado assumed his post in February 2026 and oversees PAL operations across the United States and Canada.Consul General Mangalile conveyed appreciation for PAL’s continued support to the Filipino community in the United States.Both sides affirmed the importance of close coordination to support tourism promotion and strengthen engagement with the Filipino diaspora in North America and reaffirmed the strong and growing partnership between the Philippine Consulate General in New York and Philippine Airlines. END

Sa Manhattan, Bida ang Saya!: Jollibee Launches 3rd Branch in Manhattan Consul General Senen T. Mangalile joins Ms. Mackey Dimaculangan, Jollibee Vice President for Operations, Ms. Jefy Auxillo, Jollibee Senior Director of Operations for East Coast, Ms. Divine Angeles, Jollibee District Operations Coach for East Coast Region, and investors of Jollibee North America in officially launching Jollibee’s seventh branch in New York City at 14 East 42nd Street. (Photo by Nikka Arenal). NEW YORK CITY, 30 March 2026 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile joined Jollibee North America executives and investors in the inauguration of Jollibee’s 7th branch in New York City, located at 14 East 42nd Street. The new location marks Jollibee’s third branch in the borough of Manhattan, the seventh in New York City, and the eightieth in the United States. This expansion underscores the brand's growing presence across the city. In his remarks, Consul General Mangalile emphasized the Consulate’s continued efforts to promote Filipino cuisine in the Northeastern United States. He further highlighted that as Jollibee opens its 80th store in the United States, the Philippines and the United States also celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which reflects the strong and enduring partnership between the…

Philippine Consulate General and Ladies for Rizal-New York Honor the "Modern Babaylan" at Women’s Month Forum The first panel featured Filipina authors Ms. Rose Marie Sabangan, Ms. Marissa Bañez, and Ms. Elizabeth Besa-Quirino, who shared how the ideals and values espoused by Jose Rizal influence their work. (Photo by Ms. Sherlyn M. Roxas) NEW YORK CITY, 24 March 2026 – To mark National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in New York, in partnership with the Ladies for Rizal (LFR) – New York Chapter, hosted a forum titled “Voices of Malolos, Visions of Today: A Panel on Rizal and the Modern Filipina.” Aligned with the 2026 national theme, “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!” and the sub-theme, “Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!”, the program reclaimed pre-colonial values of wisdom, empathy, and service as a blueprint for contemporary leadership. The second panel featured Filipinas from diverse backgrounds - Ms. Jenny Santi (Mental Wellness), Ms. Jessel Robel (Finance), Ms. Jenna Agatep (Law), Ms. Xyza Bacani (Arts). Both discussions were moderated by Ms. Beatriz Torre (UP Diliman Professor and CUNY PhD Student). (Photo by Ms. Sherlyn M. Roxas) In his opening remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile underscored the mission…

Philippine Consulate General and NaFFAA NY Convene 2nd Annual Filipino Nonprofit Leadership Playbook In-person and online participants actively engaged in the workshop facilitated by Mr. Clifford Temprosa Li, Director of Policy at NaFFAA New York and Founder of Dare to Change Consulting, Inc.(Photos by Mr. Noli Susi). NEW YORK CITY, 16 MARCH 2026 — Building on the initiative established last year, the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) New York Chapter held the second annual “Filipino Nonprofit Leadership Playbook” on Saturday, 14 March 2026. The hybrid seminar brought together community leaders — both attending in person at the Philippine Center and joining via Zoom from various regions where NaFFAA operates —all focused on the professionalization of community service. Consul Anna Guerra and NaFFAA President Rachelle Ocampo delivered their remarks during the workshop (Photos by Mr. Noli Susi). In her opening remarks, Consul Anna Guerra welcomed participants back to the Philippine Center for the program's second year. “Good intentions are our foundation, but today is about the ‘how’: how we design programs that reflect reality, secure funding without compromising our integrity, and most importantly, how we measure the real difference we make,”…