Page 19 - 2017 JUL -DEC KAAKBAY

19July to December
2017

Philippine and Mexican Communities Hold Cultural Encounter in New York

Consul General Dizon-De An evening entitles” Discovering the Bonds Between Our People,” during the Flipino-Mexican Cultural Consul General of Mexico

Vega welcomes guests to the Exchange on 28 November 2018 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center Diego Gomez Pickering
Philippine Center . delivers a message.

It was a night of rediscovery and rekindling of ties Community Singing of popular songs from the Philippines
between the Filipino-American and Mexican-American and Mexico such as “Manila” and “Cielito Lindo”.
Communities in New York during at the inaugural Filipino-
Mexican Community Exchange held at the Philippine Center Fil-Am Leader, Public Health Professional and
on 28 November 2017. media host Rachelle Ocampo and Mexican Maria Jose
Torres served as the night’s emcees.
With the theme “Discovering the Bonds Between
our Peoples”, the event featured messages from Philippine Consul General Dizon-De Vega spoke of the historic
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Mexico’s ties that bind the Philippines and Mexico going back more
Consul General Diego Gomez Pickering. Inspirational than 400 years, and hitting its apex with the Manila-Acapulco
immigrant stories were shared by Mexican dentist and Galleon Trade, the precursor of globalization and transocean
Community Leader Dr. Gabriel Rincon and Filipino- trade in the Asia-Pacific region. She also noted that while the
American High School Principal and Education advocate Galleon was a a great undertaking, Filipinos and Mexicans in
Carl Vincent Manalo. the US have the opportunity to forge stronger ties on a
number of common issues like education, health, migration,
Dr. Rincon and Mr. Manalo each shared their and community empowerment.
journeys as members of immigrant families in the US and
the challenges and opportunities for migrants to have a For his part, Consul General Gomez Pickering
genuine stake in the country’s future. spoke of the substantial contributions of Mexican-Americans
and Filipino-Americans to US society and how these
The evening also saw performances by the Escuela achievements must be acknowledged and serve as an
de Mariachi Angeles de Nueva Mexico based in Harlem, inspiration to the younger generations.
New York and the Mutya Philippines Dance Company under
the direction of Mr. Rey Borras. All the featured performers The Filipino-Mexican Community Exchange is the
are second and third generation members of their result of the common desire of the Philippine and Mexican
communities. Consulates General to provide a platform for migrant
communities in the US to come together to promote greater
The event also provided opportunities for diversity and acceptance in US society.

networking among young professionals and later

generation community members. The evening ended with