PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

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…

Press Release EGC-001-20223 January 2022 CONSULAR SERVICES EXTENDED BY PCG NEW YORK UP 70% IN 2021 New York, 03 January 2022 - Despite the continuing threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Consulate General in New York was able to increase the number of consular services it extended to the public by 70 percent in 2021 compared to the same period the previous year.Consul General Elmer G. Cato shared the figures during his monthly Pag-Usapan Natin virtual townhall meeting with members of the Filipino Community in the 10 United States northeast states under the Consulate’s jurisdiction on 29 December 2021.It could be noted that in 2020, the Consulate was forced to drastically reduce the number of services it could extend to the public after New York City authorities issued strict protocols in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.Consul General Cato said the Consulate had to do address the growing backlog as a result of the surge in demand for passport and other consular services from members of the Filipino Community.“As a result of our decision to return to normal operations in the second quarter, we were able to expand the number of services we extended from 16,792…

Press Release 22 November 2021 The Philippine Consulate General in New York Kicks Off the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women The Philippine Consulate General in New York, led by Consul General Elmer G. Cato, wore orange, the official color of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, which symbolizes a brighter future free of violence. (Photo by Marvin Dimaculangan) NEW YORK – Personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in New York donned orange during the first Monday of the campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW). At the lobby of the Philippine Center, a strategic place has been devoted as an Anti-VAW landmark to increase public awareness on the 18-day campaign, which runs from 25 November to 12 December.  “The Philippine Consulate is committed to empowering our female personnel and female clientele by making sure that their voices are heard,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato, during the flag-raising ceremony held this morning, 22 November. With the theme, “VAW-free Community Starts With me,” the goal is to engender a culture of accountability in fighting all forms of violence against women.  Supporting the campaign are personnel of the Philippine Center Management Board and the Social Security System who also wore orange, the…

Press Release 16 November 2021 Filipino-American Veterans Honored in New York Event The Philippine Consulate General in New York honored Filipino-American veterans in a commemorative event and a Congressional Gold Medal Award Ceremony at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on Thursday, 11 November 2021, Veterans Day (Photo by Lambert Parong) NEW YORK – The Philippine Consulate General in New York honored Filipino-American veterans in a commemorative event that included the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to three World War II Veterans Award Ceremony at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on Thursday, 11 November 2021. Among those honored were Air Force Undersecretary Gina Ortiz Jones, the highest ranking Filipino-American official in the Biden Administration, who also served as guest of honor and speaker, who traces her roots to Pangasinan, spoke of the strong people-to-people ties between the Philippines and the United States.  Undersecretary Jones was an Air Force intelligence officer who served in Iraq and Libya.  She ran but narrowly lost her bid for a congressional seat in San Antonio, Texas in 2018. On July 22, 2021, she was appointed Undersecretary of the Department of Air Force, the first woman of color to hold such an important…

Press Release 3 November 2021 The Power of One Voice Unleashed in a Night of Music and History Singers of Kayumanggi Chorale, Bayanihan Singers of Union, and the FilharmoniX Choir serenaded more than 100 attendees with Filipino songs, which highlight milestones in the nation’s continuing history, and amplify the need for unity. (Philippine Consulate General in New York Photo by Monina E. Tran) NEW YORK – In the spirit of bayanihan, various Filipino singers gathered together to lift their voices in a night of music and history at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Midtown Manhattan on Friday, 29 October 2021.  Entitled Santinig (One Voice), the concert capped off Filipino-American History Month with Filipino songs of pride, heroism, and unity, carefully selected to highlight milestones in the nation’s history, from the pre-colonial period down to the Spanish, Japanese, and American eras, and finally to the Philippines of today.  With the power of one voice, talents from the Kayumanggi Chorale, Bayanihan Singers of Union, the FilharmoniX Choir, as well as guest performers, Rogelio Peñaverde Jr., Joy Tamayo, and Vice Consul Paolo Marco R. Mapula serenaded over 100 attendees with “Bayan Ko,” “Pilipinas Kong Mahal,” “Lupang Hinirang,” and “Bati Bati ‘Di…

Press Release 30 September 2021 Consul General in New York Meets Harvard Filipino Community CAMBRIDGE, MA – Consul General Elmer G. Cato met with Filipino officials, personnel, and students of Harvard University on 29 September 2021 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The event hosted by Harvard Board of Overseas member Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine, was attended by incoming and returning Harvard students across degree programs. Harvard staff and fellows including Maria Carolina V. Dominguez, Harvard Business School Alumni Board member, and Myrish Cadapan Antonio, Director at the Harvard Kennedy School. Consul General Cato thanked the host and organizers and emphasized the importance of active involvement of the Harvard Filipino community in the development of the Philippines. He encouraged them to register as overseas voters so that they can participate in the elections next year. The Consul General assured them of the assistance of the consulate in processing their consular documents and in organizing cultural events in the Cambridge and Boston area. This activity is part of the Consulate's efforts to develop and enhance networks and partnerships with Filipino student and school organizations in the US Northeast. – END Consul General Elmer G. Cato (left), Harvard Overseer Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine (7th from the left) and Deputy…

Press Release 26 August 2021 PH Consulate General in New York Conducts Consular Outreach Mission in NH, VT The Konsulado On the Go team evaluated and processed applications of close to 300 Filipinos during the recently concluded back-to-back consular outreach in New Hampshire and Vermont during the weekend of 21 and 22 August 2021 (Philippine Consulate General in New York Photo by Roderick Rodriguez) 26 August 2021, NEW YORK – Close to 300 Filipinos in New Hampshire and Vermont were served during the Konsulado On The Go consular outreach mission conducted by the Philippine Consulate General in New York on 21 and 22 August 2021. The Filipino American Friendship Society of New Hampshire (FAFSNH), led by Jocelyn Sy Santiago, hosted the outreach at the Manchester Community Resource Center while the outreach in Vermont was held at Double Tree By Hilton in South Burlington, with the support of Filipino American Community of Vermont (FACV), under Ms. Elizabeth A. Robenstein. During both outreach, the consulate provided the following consular services: Passport application/renewal; Retention and reacquisition of Philippine citizenship; Registration of reports of birth and marriage; Notarization/consularization; and Overseas Voters Registration. Consul General Elmer G. Cato recognized the hard work of the FAFSNH and the FACV in helping the…

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…