PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Press Release EGC-018-202214 March 2022 NEW YORK AUTHORITIES URGED TO DO MORE AFTER 67-YEAR-OLD FILIPINA BECOMES THE LATEST VICTIM OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIME A 67-year-old Filipino woman was seriously injured in the latest incident of a violent anti-Asian hate attack in Yonkers. (Screenshot from CBS New York). NEW YORK - The Philippine Consulate General in New York on Monday called on authorities “to do more to protect the vulnerable” as it expressed outrage over a violent anti-Asian hate attack that left a 67-year-old Filipino woman seriously injured.The latest incident took place on Friday evening and came a few days after the Consulate reminded members of the Filipino Community to be vigilant and to take the necessary precautions following two shoving incidents in Queens that left two elderly Filipino women injured.According to the Consulate the victim was entering her apartment building in Yonkers, New York, when she was attacked from behind by the suspect who punched and stomped her more than 125 times. The victim, who sustained fractures and lacerations to the head and face as well as bleeding in the brain, is recovering in a hospital.“We are outraged by this unspeakable act committed against another elderly member of the Filipino…

Photo Release EGC-072-202214 March 2022 PHILIPPINES MARKETED AS THE ULTIMATE RETIREMENT DESTINATION A public information campaign on why the Philippines is the ultimate retirement destination was held on Tuesday, 08 March 2022, via Zoom. The webinar, live streamed on Facebook, presented resource persons from the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Agriculture. Kababayan and foreigners alike learned about business and investment opportunities for prospective retirees, as well as reintegration programs for Overseas Filipino Workers. (Flyer by Margarita E. Manubay) Photo Release EGC-073-202214 March 2022 PHILIPPINES MARKETED AS THE ULTIMATE RETIREMENT DESTINATION: A public information campaign, organized by the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon, on why the Philippines is the ultimate retirement destination was held on Tuesday, 08 March 2022, via Zoom. The webinar, live streamed on Facebook, presented resource persons from the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Agriculture. Kababayan and foreigners alike learned about business and investment opportunities for prospective retirees, as well as reintegration programs for Overseas Filipino Workers. Tourism Attaché Francisco Lardizabal and General Manager of the Philippine National Bank were also present during the discussion…

Press Release EGC-017-202212 March 2022 PCG NEW YORK REMINDS FILIPINOS TO BE VIGILANT AFTER TWO PINAYS INJURED IN SUBWAY INCIDENTS NEW YORK - The Philippine Consulate General in New York has reminded members of the Filipino Community to be vigilant and to take the necessary precautions while in public in the wake of two recent shoving incidents that left two elderly Filipino women injured.In a statement issued over the weekend, the Consulate expressed concern over the latest incidents that followed similar assaults against other members of the Asian-American Community since the start of the year.“The recent spate of attacks against Filipinos and other Asian-Americans—whether triggered by racial bias or mental illness—is a serious concern that must be immediately addressed,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato.On Thursday, 10 March 2022, a Filipina in her late 50s, who walks with a cane and suffers from poor eyesight, was injured after she was shoved down the stairs by an unidentified man at the 179th Street Station of the F Train in the neighborhood of Jamaica in Queens.On the same day, a Filipina in her mid-60s was pushed by an unidentified man at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train platform, also in Jamaica, causing…

Photo Release EGC-069-20228 March 2022 CONSULATE HOLDS DUAL CITIZENSHIP OATH-TAKING FOR MEDICAL FRONTLINERS Kababayan sing the Philippine National Anthem in a special mass oath taking held at North Brunswick, New Jersey on Saturday, 05 March 2022, in honor of medical frontliners who battled and continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippine Consulate General in New York organized the event in partnership with the Philippine Nurses Association of America of New Jersey. (Photo by Noli Susi) Photo Release EGC-070-20228 March 2022 OATH TAKING FOR MEDICAL WORKERS: Kababayan, who are mostly registered nurses, wave Philippine flags after taking their oath as Filipino Citizens before Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro (center) at North Brunswick, New Jersey on Saturday, 05 March 2022.  Filipino nurses have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, making up the largest immigrant registered nurses in the United States. (Photo by Noli Susi) Photo Release EGC-071-20228 March 2022 OATH TAKING FOR MEDICAL WORKERS: The team members of the Philippine Consulate General in New York gather for a photo opportunity with members and volunteers of the Philippine Nurses Association of America of New Jersey, headed by Ms. Jackie Baras (front row, third from left), after successfully concluding the…

Photo Release EGC-068-202204 March 2022 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES DONATES BOOKS TO SENTRO RIZAL NEW YORK Former Deputy Director General of the National Museum of the Philippines, Dr. Ana Maria Theresa P. Labrador (second from the left), turns over books to Sentro Rizal New York to add to its Filipiniana collection on Wednesday, 02 March 2022. Books donated include topics on the artistry of Philippine textiles, Philippine Natural history, and Philippine Art, among others. “I encourage all second and third generations of Filipino Americans to come visit Sentro Rizal New York to learn about your Philippine heritage,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato (second from the right). Also in the photo are Deputy Consul General Arman R. Talbo (leftmost) and Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro (rightmost). (Photo by Marianne Olfindo)

Photo Release EGC-067-202201 March 2022 PCG NEW YORK KICKS OFF NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION In support of the strides that women continue to make to achieve gender equality and to recognize the accomplishments of women throughout history, personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in New York don the color purple on Monday, 01 March 2022, the start of National Women’s Month. Purple has been historically associated with women empowerment. The Philippine Consulate General in New York has a lot in store this month to honor women such as an essay writing contest on how Filipino-American women are agents of change, and the Philippine Consulate’s annual flagship program, An Evening with Distinguished Filipino Women. Mabuhay ang Ating mga Kababaihan! (Photo by Vanessa de Castro)

Press Release EGC-016-20221 March 2022 SENTRO RIZAL NEW YORK LAUNCHES BAYANI SERIES Sentro Rizal New York, under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, officially began its cultural diplomacy initiatives with the maiden episode of its “Bayani Series” on Friday, 18 February. This first episode gives a glimpse of the social life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and how his interactions with fellow reformists have influenced and enriched his way of thinking, and shaped the hero that he came to be. (Flyer by Mae Ermita Manubay) NEW YORK - Sentro Rizal New York, under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, officially began its cultural diplomacy initiatives with the maiden episode of its “Bayani Series” on Friday, 18 February.Entitled “Rizal in the Company of Heroes: The Adventures of Rizal Among the Filipino Reformists,” Assistant Professor Augusto V. de Viana of the History Department of the University of Santo Tomas who is a member of the technical panel for history of the Commission on Higher Education and the co-founder of the International Council for Historical and Cultural Cooperation in Southeast Asia, served as resource person. During his presentation, Assistant Professor de Viana first gave…

Photo Release EGC-061-20221 March 2022 NEW YORK ASSEMBLYMAN CYMBROWITZ WELCOMES DISCUSSION WITH PCGNY New York Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz has welcomed the efforts of the Philippine Consulate General to reach out and meet leaders of the State Assembly and other officials. The Brooklyn legislator met virtually with Consul General Elmer G. Cato on 22 February 2022. In that meeting, Consul General Cato expressed the Consulate’s desire to strengthen its relations with local officials. (Photo by Margarita Manubay)

Press Release EGC-015-202228 February 2022 US CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WELCOMES PCGNY OUTREACH EFFORTS Reverend Alfred Charles Sharpton (rightmost) expressses his interest to bring communities together during the courtesy call of Consul General Elmer G. Cato (third from left) at the National Action Network Office in Times Square on Wednesday, 23 February 2022. Also in the photo are Michael A. Hardy, General Counsel of the National Action Network (leftmost) and Vice Consul Tanya Faye O. Ramiro (Photo by National Action Network staff) NEW YORK - American civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton has applauded the efforts of the Philippine Consulate General in New York to reach out to other communities to address the surge in hate crimes. The American civil rights activist, who is also one of the leaders of the African-American Community in the United States, welcomed the Consulate's initiative to encourage dialogue among those affected by racism and bias during a courtesy call by Consul General Elmer G. Cato."We can only combat hate if all communities stand united against hate," Consul General Elmer G. Cato told Reverend Sharpton during their meeting at the National Action Network (NAN) office in New York City on Wednesday, 23 February 2022.Consul Genera Cato requested…

Press Release EGC-014-2022 26 February 2022 WORLD-CLASS FILIPINO CHOCOLATE BRAND MAKING ITS MARK IN NEW YORK Mark Mendoza Ocampo, co-founder and Managing Director of Auro Chocolate, the internationally awarded premium bean-to-bar chocolate brand of the Philippines, describes to Consul General Elmer G. Cato the variety of chocolates the company offers during a courtesy call at the Philippine Consulate General in New York on Wednesday, 16 February. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) NEW YORK - Auro Chocolate, the internationally awarded premium bean-to-bar chocolate brand, proudly made in the Philippines, is making headway in New York City.  Auro Chocolate Co-founder and Managing Director Mark Mendoza Ocampo has expressed the company’s desire to strengthen its presence in the American market during a courtesy call on Consul General Elmer G. Cato at the Philippine Consulate General in New York on Wednesday, 16 February. “We are now in search of bigger distributors for Auro here in the United States.” Mendoza said.  Committed to empowering cacao farmers in the Philippines, Auro Chocolate has been partnering directly with farms and cooperatives. The Filipino confectionary brand currently supplies to over 30 countries worldwide, including the United States. “Cacao has been in the Philippines for over 300 years…