PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

PH Consulate General In New York Holds Media Hour With COMELEC On 2025 Online Voting System From left: COMELEC Director Ian Michael G. Geonanga, Director John Rex Laudiangco, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino, and Consul Ricarte Abejuela III during the Media Hour discussion on the overseas pre-voting enrollment process. (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK CITY, 31 March 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York held its first quarter Media Hour on 28 March 2025 at the Philippine Center, with the participation of officials from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to present updates on the implementation of the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) for the 2025 Philippine national elections. The event followed the three-day Regional Training for North and Latin American Foreign Service Posts on the administration of overseas voting through the new online system, held in New York from 26 to 28 March 2025.COMELEC Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino, along with Director Ian Michael G. Geonanga and Director John Rex Laudiangco, briefed members of the Filipino-American media on the conduct of overseas voting under the OVCS. They responded to questions regarding system features, cybersecurity measures, voter verification procedures, and efforts to ensure accessibility…

DFA and COMELEC Conduct Regional Training in New York on Online Voting for 2025 Philippine National Elections NEW YORK CITY, 28 March 2025 – The Department of Foreign Affairs–Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) and the Commission on Elections–Office for Overseas Voting (COMELEC-OFOV) successfully conducted the Regional Training for North and Latin America Foreign Service Posts on the General Instructions for the Electoral Boards on the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) for the 2025 Philippine National Elections, held from 26 to 28 March 2025 in New York City.Hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the three-day training gathered members of the Special Electoral Boards who will serve during the overseas voting period. This activity forms part of the preparations for the first-ever implementation of online voting for overseas Filipinos.Consul General Senen T. Mangalile welcomed over 70 representatives from the Philippine Embassies in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and the United States, as well as from the Philippine Consulates General in Calgary, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver, who actively participated in the training.COMELEC Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino led the COMELEC delegation, joined by Deputy Executive Director Helen Aguila-Flores and Directors Ian Michel G.…

New York PCG and Sentro Rizal NY Receive Replica of Historic Murillo Velarde Map Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (left) receives a replica of the Murillo Velarde Map of 1734 from Ms. Therese San Diego Torres (right), President of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), in a turnover ceremony held at the Philippine Center on 20 March 2025. (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK, 20 March 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General and Sentro Rizal New York received an official replica of the Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas, otherwise known as the Murillo Velarde Map of 1734, from the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) during a turnover ceremony held at Philippine Center in New York.Dubbed as the “Mother of all Philippine Maps,” the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map was created by Spanish Jesuit Friar Pedro Murillo Velarde, illustrated by Filipino cartographer Francisco Suarez, and engraved by Nicolas de la Cruz Bagay. As the first scientific and comprehensive map of the Philippine archipelago, it remains a significant artifact that highlights the country’s rich cartographic heritage.The map played a pivotal role in the Philippines' territorial claims, serving as fundamental evidence in the landmark 2016 Arbitral Ruling…

New York PCG Hosts an Evening Talk on Mental Health Awareness with Distinguished Filipino Women (Left photo) Philippine Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (third from right) joins FilAm mental health advocates (L-R) Ms. Doris Delgado-Novicio, Dr. Salvacion Francisco, Ms. Michelle Garcia, Ms. Angelita Cordova-Hayes and Ms. Jillian Mariano in a lively discussion on mental health awareness at the Philippine Center. (Right photo) Official poster of “An Evening with Distinguished Filipino Women: Lets Talk About Mental Health.” (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK, 11 March 2025 -  In commemoration of Philippine National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in New York held “An Evening With Distinguished Filipino Women” featuring a substantive discussion on mental health awareness.In his opening remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile noted that mental health plays a vital role in one’s overall well-being. He observed that those who struggle with their mental health are more likely to experience relationship challenges, physical health issues, and frustrations in attaining their long-term goals. He also conveyed the key message of the event, that it is extremely important to give attention to one’s mental health which is just as important as one’s physical health.Three notable Filipino-American mental health advocates were invited to…

PH Consulate General and NYC SBS Explore Collaboration to Support Filipino Small Businesses (Left) Officials from the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) pose for a group photo following a productive meeting on strengthening support for Filipino-American small businesses. (Right) Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (leftmost) and SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross (middle) engage in discussions on enhancing support for Filipino-American entrepreneurs in New York City. (Photos by VC Cathe Aguilar) NEW YORK, 11 March 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York met with New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Dynishal Gross to discuss ongoing partnerships and future collaboration in support of Filipino-American entrepreneurs in New York City. The meeting focused on strengthening business development programs, expanding outreach efforts, and ensuring that Filipino small businesses can access SBS programs and services.Commissioner Gross welcomed the Consulate’s engagement in supporting Filipino entrepreneurs and emphasized the importance of providing small businesses with the necessary resources to grow. Discussions revisited past collaborations, including the Consulate’s participation in the Asian American Small Business Task Force (AATF) and SBS’s engagement in the 10th Filipino Community General Assembly, where Filipino business…

PH and Israeli Consuls General in New York Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Ties Consul General Senen T. Mangalile welcomes Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis at the Philippine Center on 10 March 2025 to discuss areas of mutual interest including cultural exchange, community engagement, and economic cooperation. (Photos by Nikka B. Arenal) NEW YORK, 10 March 2025 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile welcomed Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis 2025 at the Philippine Center in New York, where they discussed areas of mutual interest, including cultural exchange, community engagement, and economic cooperation. The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong and enduring ties between the Philippines and Israel, built on a history of close collaboration.Both Consuls General underscored the longstanding friendship between the two nations, highlighting their common Judeo-Christian heritage, vibrant economic partnerships, and deep people-to-people linkages. They also recognized the contributions of their respective diaspora communities, particularly the Filipino workers in Israel and the Jewish community in the Philippines, as vital links in strengthening bilateral relations.The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore avenues for collaboration, particularly in community relations and economic development, to deepen engagement between the Filipino and Israeli communities in New York and beyond. END

Filipina World Traveler Luisa Yu Visits New York PCG, Marking Women’s Month with Her Story Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (left) receives Ms. Luisa Yu (right) during her courtesy visit to the Philippine Consulate General in New York. (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK, 10 March 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York warmly welcomed Ms. Luisa Yu, the oldest Filipina to have traveled to all 193 United Nations-recognized countries—a remarkable journey she completed at the age of 79.Born in the Philippines and based in the United States, Ms. Yu’s visit was both a celebration of personal achievement and a tribute to the courage and determination of women who continue to break barriers at any age. Her decades-long pursuit of cultural discovery and connection took her across every continent, with many of those travels undertaken solo.Consul General Senen T. Mangalile encouraged Ms. Yu to explore more of the Philippines’ provinces, a suggestion she welcomed, saying that discovering more of her home country is now part of her plans. Consul General Mangalile shows Ms. Yu around the Lobby Gallery of the Philippine Center, highlighting the names of Philippine provinces. After completing her journey across 193 countries, Ms. Yu was…

PH Consulate Hosts Unity Iftar in New York, Strengthening Community and Interfaith Ties Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (front row, fifth from right), Assemblymember Steven Raga (sixth from right), officers of the Philippine Consulate General in New York, with members of the Filipino community and interfaith partners and guests. (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas) NEW YORK, 07 March 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York, in partnership with Kinding Sindaw Heritage Foundation, Inc., held its annual Unity Iftar on 06 March 2025 at the Philippine Center, bringing together members of the Filipino Muslim community, interfaith leaders, and government representatives for an evening of spiritual reflection, solidarity, and fellowship. In his remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile underscored the importance of fostering meaningful connections through shared traditions. “As we break bread together this evening, let this gathering be a reminder that there is more that unites us than that which divides us, that respect is the foundation of every strong community, and that in sharing our traditions, we make room for deeper connections and a greater appreciation of one another,” he stated​. He reaffirmed the Philippine Consulate’s commitment to promoting dialogue and understanding, emphasizing that unity is built not through…