Page 30 - 2017 JUL -DEC KAAKBAY

30 July to December
2017

ASEAN@50 Celebrated in New York

It was an evening of celebration, friendship, and
camaraderie as the Philippine Consulate General in New York
hosted the ASEAN Night on 11 August 2017 at the Kalayaan Hall
of the Philippine Center, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of
the ASEAN.

Consular and diplomatic officials from the 10 member
states co-organized the festive and meaningful event which
featured traditional food and beverages from each ASEAN
member country, native music and dances, and capped by
community singing of famous songs from ASEAN countries.

Special guests at the event included Manhattan Borough Consul General de Vega delivers her welcome remarks at the ASEAN Night in
President Gale A. Brewer, Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) Area New York on 11 August 2017.

Director Jeffrey Cellars, and representatives of the Society of

Foreign Consuls in New York (SOFC). Ms. Brewer and Director Cellars extended special messages on the occasion.

Consulate General in New York Expands Mabini Session in New York Highlights
Contacts in Pennsylvania ASEAN@50

The Philippine The Philippine Consulate General in New York held
Consulate General in New last Tuesday, 25 July 2017, its annual Mabini Session at the
York took steps to further Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York.
expand and enhance its
networks in Pennsylvania by In honor of the Philippine chairmanship of the ASEAN
joining the Consular Corps this year, the event featured the topic ASEAN@50. Featured
Association of Philadelphia speakers for the night were retired Philippine Ambassador
(CCAP) starting January 2018. Leslie Gatan, and Ateneo Law School professor and ASEAN
The CCAP is the oldest law practitioner Atty. Aris Gulapa.
consular organization in the
US. Amba. Gatan discussed the background and history
of ASEAN, delving into the relationships among the founding
Philippine Consul economies and the subsequent member-states that joined the
association later. Atty. Gulapa, for his part discussed the
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De General Theresa Dizon-De concept of the ASEAN Economic Community, what its vision
Vega with Honorary Consul General of Vega met with Mr. Peter S. is and what it aims to accomplish in the short and medium-
Uruguay and current CCAP President Longsreth, President of CCAP term. A short but interesting discussion was held after the
presentations, with audience members asking very keen
Peter S. Longsreth and current Honorary Consul questions relating to the subject matter.

General of Uruguay. Consul The Mabini Session is an annual event sponsored by
and is part of the Consulate General’s commemoration of the
General De Vega discussed the membership of the anniversary of the founding of the DFA, as well as the birth
anniversary of Apolinario Mabini.
Philippines in the association starting in 2018 and said the
Participants, legal practitioners and community members joined the public forum
Consulate looks forward to a more active partnership with the ASEAN@50 which featured retired Ambassador Leslie Gatan and ASEAN law
practitioner Atty. Aris Gulapa held at Kalayaan Hall.
Consular Corps Association.

Mr. Longstreth discussed the regular activities of the
CCAP as well as the work it undertakes in facilitating events
in Pennsylvania with the association’s local contacts.

At present there are 51 member countries in the
CCAP some of which are represented by career Consulates
while a majority are based in New York or New Jersey with
consular jurisdiction over Pennsylvania. CCAP organizes
talks and briefings by Pennsylvania officials, regular
members hip meetings, commemorative celebrations, trade,

and investment events .