PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

Press Release EGC-035-2022 10 November 2022 FIRST FILIPINO-AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY On Tuesday, 08 November 2022, Steven Raga (D) made history as the first ever Filipino-American elected to any state-level position in New York, if not in the entire United States of America. “Raga’s groundbreaking victory is a triumph of the entire Filipino community,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato. “For the first time in history, Filipinos finally have a voice in the New York State government,” he further added. Garnering more than 54 percent of the votes cast over opponent, Sean Lally (R), Raga will be serving as the Assemblyman for Assembly District 30, an area of the Borough of Queens, where “Little Manila Avenue” is located. Located in Little Manila are Filipino businesses, such as Jollibee, Max’s, Philippine National Bank, Filipino convenience stores, and cash remittance centers. Raised by a single mother, Raga, has a long track record in public service and community organization. He currently serves as the executive director of “Woodside on the Move,” a grassroots community organization in Western Queens. Raga, an alumnus of FYLPRO (Filipino Young Leaders Program), is also staunch partner of the Philippine Consulate General in New York,…

Photo Release EGC-143-20223 November 2022 PHILIPPINE BALLET THEATRE DANCES TO ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC IN NEW YORK On Tuesday, 18 October 2022, the Philippine Ballet Theatre performed at the Philippine Center in New York City, after a three-year hiatus, where they danced to Original Pilipino Music, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) Photo Release EGC-144-20223 November 2022 PHILIPPINE BALLET THEATRE DANCES TO ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC IN NEW YORK On Tuesday, 18 October 2022, the Philippine Ballet Theatre performed at the Philippine Center in New York City, after a three-year hiatus, where they danced to Original Pilipino Music, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) Photo Release EGC-145-20223 November 2022 PHILIPPINE BALLET THEATRE DANCES TO ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC IN NEW YORK On Tuesday, 18 October 2022, the Philippine Ballet Theatre performed at the Philippine Center in New York City, after a three-year hiatus, where they danced to Original Pilipino Music, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) Photo Release EGC-146-20223 November 2022 PHILIPPINE BALLET THEATRE DANCES TO ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC IN NEW YORK On Tuesday, 18 October 2022, the Philippine Ballet Theatre performed at the Philippine…

Press Release EGC-034-20223 November 2022 PHILIPPINE BALLET THEATER DANCES TO ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC IN NEW YORK The pre-eminent classical ballet company of the Philippines – the Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) – held its premiere presentation, “On the Wings of Song” at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on Tuesday, 18 October 2022, where the ballerinas danced to Original Pilipino Music (OPM[1]) such as the songs of Filipino music icon, Jose Mari Chan. This celebration of Filipino-American History Month was made possible through the collaboration among the Philippine Consulate General in New York, Sentro Rizal New York, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Hiraya Foundation for Filipino American Heritage Preservation. Jose Mari Chan’s classic songs, such as “Perhaps Love,” “Can’t We Start Over Again,” and “Please Be Careful with my Heart,” among others, inspired the graceful choreography and elegant costumes of the ballerinas.   Other OPM, which served as musical background during the almost 2-hour show, included “Mamang Sorbetero,” “Hiram,” and “Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin.” “This month, we not only celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Filipinos to American society, throughout the years, but we also mark this month by celebrating our rich heritage and our world-class Filipino talents,” said Vice…

Photo Release EGC-139-20222 November 2022 PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS PAY A VISIT ON FIL-AM MAYOR ARVIN AMATORIO On Monday, 31 October 2022, a group of eight Philippine-based journalists paid a visit on Filipino American Mayor Arvin Amatorio at Bergenfield, New Jersey to have a more in-depth and on-the-ground perspective on concerns involving Filipinos, such as the welfare and rights of migrants. John Paul Soriano of GMA News shakes hands with Mayor Amatorio. (Photo by Nikka B. Arenal) Photo Release EGC-140-20222 November 2022 PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS PAY A VISIT ON FIL-AM MAYOR ARVIN AMATORIO On Monday, 31 October 2022, a group of eight Philippine-based journalists paid a visit on Filipino American Mayor Arvin Amatorio at Bergenfield, New Jersey to have a more in-depth and on-the-ground perspective on concerns involving Filipinos, such as the welfare and rights of migrants. John Paul Soriano of GMA News and Willard Cheng of ABS-CBN ask the Mayor questions. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) Photo Release EGC-141-20222 November 2022 PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS PAY A VISIT ON FIL-AM MAYOR ARVIN AMATORIO On Monday, 31 October 2022, a group of eight Philippine-based journalists paid a visit on Filipino American Mayor Arvin Amatorio at Bergenfield, New Jersey to have a more in-depth and on-the-ground perspective on concerns involving Filipinos,…

Photo Release EGC-136-20221 November 2022 NEW YORK CITY MAYOR DONS A BARONG TAGALOG On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York at the Financial District in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. Consul General Elmer G. Cato presents a Barong Tagalog to Mayor Eric Adams. (Photo by Marc Lacanlale) Photo Release EGC-137-20221 November 2022 NEW YORK CITY MAYOR DONS A BARONG TAGALOG On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York at the Financial District in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. New York City Mayor Eric Adams tries on the Barong Tagalog gifted to him by Consul General Elmer G. Cato. (Photo by Marc Lacanlale) Photo Release EGC-138-20221 November 2022 NEW YORK CITY MAYOR DONS A BARONG TAGALOG On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York at the Financial District in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. New York City Mayor Eric Adams tries on the Barong Tagalog gifted to him by Consul General Elmer G. Cato. (Photo by Marc Lacanlale)

Press Release EGC-033-20221 November 2022 NEW YORK CITY MAYOR DONS A BARONG TAGALOG During the unprecedented Philippine Flag raising ceremony held at the Financial District on Friday, 28 October 2022, with the Office of the New York City Mayor, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month, Mayor Eric Adams peeled off his blazer and tried on the Barong Tagalog gifted to him by Consul General Elmer G. Cato, to the delight of all those present.This is the first time that Mayor Eric Adams engaged directly with the Filipino-American Community and the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York, ever since he assumed his office on 01 January 2022. This is also the first time a New York City Mayor donned a Barong Tagalog in public.“I was telling the Consul General I wanted the Barong,” Mayor Eric Adams said, as soon as he reached the podium to deliver his message. “I want to wear that when I am in office.”The Barong Tagalog is a long-sleeved embroidered shirt, usually made of piña (pineapple leaf fiber), and worn by Filipino men during formal occasions.As a gateway to the country, New York City has historically been welcoming to immigrants. As a symbol of this…

Press Release EGC-032-202231 October 2022 A SWEET ESCAPE: A CHOCOLATE BREAK WITH THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS New York, 31 October 2022 - The Philippine Consulate General in New York, as part of its economic diplomacy efforts, organized a chocolate sommelier-guided Philippine artisanal chocolate tasting session, attended by some members of the Diplomatic Corps, on Thursday, 27 October 2022, at the Philippine Center.During the one-hour chocolate break, a variety of chocolates produced by The Chocolate Chamber (TCC), an artisanal chocolate brand based in Cebu, was introduced to the participants, such as tablea as a drink, choco-mango nugget, tartufini, whole cacao nib praline, and hand-rolled truffle. Apart from the regular chocolates offered, the participants were treated to two different chocolate dips, prepared on the spot, by Ms. Raquel Toquero-Choa, founder of TCC, who goes by the title, “Chocolate Queen.” The dips were then used on suman (Philippine sticky rice cakes) and churros (Spanish fried dough), which were provided during the session.Representatives from Consulates/Missions of Republic of Peru, Kingdom of Thailand, Republic of Türkiye, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Republic of Indonesia, and Kingdom of Cambodia took a respite from work to partake in this indulgent gustatory experience.During her presentation, The Chocolate Queen shared her…

Photo Release EGC-126-202228 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York at the Financial District in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. Consul General Elmer G. Cato, Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer, and others gaze at the Philippine Flag as it is hoisted (Photo by Marc Lacanlale). Photo Release EGC-127-202228 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York at the Financial District in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. Consul General Elmer G. Cato speaks about the first Filipino settlement in the coastal wetlands of Louisiana back in 1587, and how hundreds of years later, the Filipino Community has spread across the United States of America. (Photo by Tanya Faye O. Ramiro) Photo Release EGC-128-202228 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Philippine Flag was raised…

Press Release EGC-031-2022 28 October 2022 PHILIPPINE FLAG RAISED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK History was made when the Philippine Flag was raised for the very first time by the City of New York on Friday, 28 October 2022, at Bowling Green Park, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month. This is also the first time that New York City Mayor Eric Adams engaged with the Filipino-American Community and the Philippine Consulate General in New York.  In his remarks, Consul General Elmer G. Cato said that the historic flag raising ceremony “is a recognition of the many contributions and achievements of Filipinos to New York City, particularly our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.” He also thanked New York City Mayor Eric Adams “for initiatives to fight hate and discrimination against Filipinos and the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community, such as increasing police visibility, especially in subways.” Consul General Cato concluded by assuring the Mayor of “the full and steadfast support of the Filipino-American Community in helping ensure that New York City remains a beacon of democracy, freedom, and equality.” Mayor Eric Adams, on the other…

Photo Release EGC-120-2022 25 October 2022 MINDANAO'S INDIGENOUS BEARER'S OF CULTURAL HERITAGE PERFORM IN NEW YORK From 20 to 23 October 2022, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month, Sentro Rizal New York and the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York, in collaboration with Kinding Sindaw Hertiage Foundation, and with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, featured master artists and tradition bearers of the Maguindanao, Meranao, Taosug, and Tboli tribes, who performed dances and chanted epics of Mindanao at the La Mama Experimental Theatre Club. Entitled “Posaka: Revisiting Mindanao Through its Master Artists and Cultural Tradition Bearers,” the event aims to put a spotlight on the cultural heritage of Mindanao. Consul General Elmer G. Cato graced the last night of the gala, and said that there is much more to learn about our Muslim Mindanao heritage (Photo by Troi Santos). Photo Release EGC-121-2022 25 October 2022 MINDANAO'S INDIGENOUS BEARER'S OF CULTURAL HERITAGE PERFORM IN NEW YORK From 20 to 23 October 2022, in commemoration of Filipino-American History Month, Sentro Rizal New York and the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York, in collaboration with Kinding Sindaw Hertiage Foundation, and with the support of…