Page 27 - 2017 JUL -DEC KAAKBAY
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Philippine Consul General Meets                                                  27July to December
    US Congressman Crowley                                                                         2017

                                                                              PH Consul General Meets
                                                                              US Congresswoman Meng

Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega (left) and US Congressman           (L-R) Mr. Steven Raga, Congresswoman Meng, Consul General de Vega, and
Joseph Crowley (right) during their meeting in New York                         Consul Arman R. Talbo during their meeting in Flushing, Queens .

           Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega met                               Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega met
with US Congressman Joseph Crowley (D), US Congress                           yesterday with US Congresswoman Grace Meng (Democrat)
Representative of New York's 14th Congressional district                      of the Sixth Congressional District of New York encompassing
and chairman of the Democratic Caucus, the 4th highest                        the New York City borough of Queens, including west, central
ranking position in the House Democratic Leadership.                          and northeast Queens. The meeting was held at the
                                                                              Congresswoman's district office in Flushing, Queens.
           Consul General de Vega and Congressman
Crowley discussed the bilateral relations between the                                    Consul General de Vega gave an overview of the
Philippines and the United States, noting the long shared                     bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United
history and values between the two countries.                                 States and discussed with Congresswoman Meng the issues
                                                                              concerning the Filipino-American community in New York, a
           The Consul General updated the Congressman on                      significant number of whom reside or are engaged in business
the recent developments in the Philippines, including the                     in her district.
upcoming ASEAN Summit in November and the
participation of President Donald Trump. Consul General                                  Consul General de Vega and Congresswoman Meng
Dizon-De Vega extended an invitation to Congressman                           likewise discussed ways through which the Filipino-American
Crowley to join the Philippines-US Friendship Caucus and                      community could get more involved in political and social
to visit the Philippines in the future to meet officials and be               activities in the district, including voter registration and
updated on developments concerning Philippines-US                             membership in community and advisory boards. They both
relations.                                                                    recognized the significant contributions made by Fil-Ams and
                                                                              other Asian-Americans in the development of the district in
           Issues concerning the Filipino-American community                  Queens.
like healthcare and immigration were likewise discussed and
both the Consul General and Congressman Crowley agreed                                   Congresswoman Meng is the first Asian American
that any assistance or clarifications extended to existing                    Member of Congress from New York State, and the only
DACA recipients affected by recent changes in US                              Congressional member of Asian descent in the entire
immigration rules are most welcome and should continue.                       Northeast. She is a listed member and supporter of the
                                                                              Philippine-US Friendship Caucus in the US Congress.
           The Consulate’s Political Officer Consul Arman
Talbo and Ms. Mirna Velasquez, Director of Immigration and                               Consul Arman Talbo, Political Officer of the Consulate
Consular Affairs of the Office of Congressman Crowley also                    General, and Mr. Steven Raga, an active Fil-Am community
participated in the meeting.                                                  leader in the district and a delegate to the 2012 Fil-Am Youth
                                                                              Leadership Program (FYLPro), also participated in the
                                                                              meeting. Congresswoman Meng was joined by Jacqueline A.
                                                                              Hsieh, Director of Intergovernmental and District Affairs .

Consul General de Vega (left), Congressman Crowley (center), and Consul       Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega (L) and Congresswoman
Arman Talbo (right) discuss issues affecting the Filipino-American Community  Grace Meng (R) of the Sixth Congressional District of New York.
in New York.
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