PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

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…

Press Release 30 March 2021 Former Philippine Envoy to Libya is now Consul General in New York Journalist-diplomat, Mr. Elmer G. Cato, is now the Consul General of the Philippine Consulate General in New York. 30 March 2021, New York – Journalist-diplomat, Elmer G. Cato, officially assumed today as Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York. A career diplomat with the rank of Chief of Mission Class II, Consul General Cato succeeds Consul General Petronila P. Garcia who retired in January. Consul General Cato arrived this afternoon from Libya where he served for two years as Chargé d’Affaires, e.p. and Head of Mission of the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli. A journalist before joining the foreign service, Consul General Cato had served in various capacities in the Philippines and abroad in the past 22 years. His first overseas posting was at the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations from 2003 to 2010 where he also served as a member of the Philippine Delegation to the UN Security Council from 2004 to 2005. Consul General Cato was assigned to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. from 2012 until he volunteered to go to Iraq where…

Press Release 29 March 2021 PH Consulate General Hosts Pag-IBIG and SSS Webinar (Top-bottom, L-R) Consul Arman R. Talbo, Pag-IBIG Marketing Officer Ana Karina Z. Ortiz and SSS NY Representative Celenia Dimaano-Lacro. (Photo by NYPCG) 29 March 2021, New York – The Philippine Consulate General in New York hosted a virtual event entitled Pag-IBIG Fund and SSS Webinar for Filipinos in the US Northeast last Friday, 26 March 2021 at 7PM (EDT). The webinar featured two speakers, namely: Ms. Ana Karina Z. Ortiz, Marketing Officer – Virtual Office – New York, Pag-IBIG Fund International Operations Group and Ms. Celenia Dimaano-Lacro, SSS New York Representative. They provided presentations on the programs and benefits that their respective offices offer to overseas Filipinos. After the presentations of the speakers, Fil-Am community members in the US northeast who joined the webinar via Zoom and through the New York PCG’s Facebook page /PHLinNY were given the opportunity to ask questions which were answered directly by the resource persons. The virtual event was moderated by Consul Arman R. Talbo. – END

Press Release 19 March 2021 Philippine Consulate General Honors Distinguished Filipino Women in New York New York, 19 March 2021 – In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in New York honored and featured five remarkable and accomplished Filipino-American women – an entrepreneur, a software engineer, a White House media specialist, an award-winning director/producer, and an Emmy-nominated news anchor - at a virtual event dubbed as “An Evening with Distinguished Filipino Women” on Thursday, 18 March 2021. The women powerhouse, comprised of Juliette’s CEO, Founder Rechelle Balanzat, Tumblr software engineer Diana Kris Navarro, White House Press Assistant Angela Perez, “Yellow Rose” film director/producer Diane Paragas, and NBC10 Boston and NECN anchor/reporter Joy Lim Nakrin, shared their inspiration in choosing their respective careers. They also related the challenges and opportunities they faced personally and professionally as Filipino-American women in breaking glass ceilings, making their voices heard, and achieving success in their chosen fields. News anchor Ms. Nakrin, who moderated the panel discussion, acknowledged that holding the Distinguish Filipino Women Forum during this time when Asian-American communities are under attack is an important way to honor Philippine heritage, history and culture, embrace Filipino-American identity, as well as strengthen and…

Press Release 11 March 2021 Eligible Consulate Personnel Get the Vaccine (L-R) Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate, Theresa Resurreccion and Wilson Ros avail of their 1st dose of the Covid Vaccine at designated facilities in New York and New Jersey.New York City, 11 March  - Eligible Philippine Consulate General in New York personnel, including Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate, were among the tri-state residents who availed of the COVID19 vaccine shots made accessible by state governments in the U.S. Northeast.Because of age or other underlying co-morbidities, the Consulate’s staff were deemed eligible for the vaccine, under their respective state’s eligibility criteria. Deputy Consul General Tate started looking for available vaccination slots as soon as he learned he was eligible, and managed to secure one in the early days of March. Other staff members were even more fortunate, having qualified and received the vaccine in February. None of those vaccinated reported any side effects from receiving the vaccine.Mr. Tate stated that he considered the facts around getting and was convinced of the vaccines’ safety and efficacy. “We need everyone, especially in the Filipino and Filipino-American community, who are eligible to immediately secure their spots for getting their vaccination shots”…