Page 29 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June

29January to June
2016

Philippine Consul General Joins Executive Committee of Society of Consuls in New York

Philippine Consul General to New York Theresa Dizon-De Vega attended
her first meeting of the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York as an Executive
Committee Member representing East Asia and Western Pacific on 24 January
2017. Her predecessor Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. served as a member
of the Executive Committee and subsequently as President of the Society.

Consul General Dizon-De Vega joined the other Executive Committee
members representing other geographic regions at the residence of Saudi Arabian
Consul General Khaled Al Sharif who hosted the Executive Committee Meeting.
The Society is currently headed by Maria Isabel Nieto, Consul General of
Colombia.

During the meeting the Society’s Executive Committee had a discussion
on various consular corps concerns with guests Office of Foreign Missions (OFM)
Regional Director Jeffrey R. Sellars and Deputy Regional Director Murray Smith.
The OFM is a branch of the US State Department handling concerns of foreign
missions in the US.

The Executive Committee likewise finalized plans for forthcoming Society

of Foreign Consuls events in New York including an International Food Festival in
Society of Foreign Consuls in New York Executive February and dialogues with city, state, and other officials in New York.
Committee Members with Office of Foreign Missions
Regional Director Jeffrey R. Sellars and Deputy The Philippine Consulate General maintains an active engagement with

Regional Director Murray Smith the Society of Foreign Consuls and will participate in its forthcoming programs.

(continued from page 28... PGRAD)
Tony and Grammy award-winning Broadway Producer Jett Tolentino

delivered the keynote address, referencing his humble roots in the slums of Iloilo

and his perseverance that helped him achieve his lofty dreams. He credited his early
realization of the value of education and desire to give back to his family and
community that made him strive for scholarships which funded his high school and
college education.

This year, the Office of New York State Assemblyman Brian Barnwell issued

Certificates to all the PGrad honorees and also gave Long Citations to three Broadway producer The Northern Star Award
exemplary PGRAD participants – Councilman Jonathan Wong, Ms. Venessa Jhett Tolentino delivers was given to Kristina
Manzano, and Ms. Laura Garcia. keynote address. Kalaw Joyas

Mahwah, New Jersey Councilman Jonathan Wong, the youngest elected Fil-Am in public office who finished his Juris
Doctor from Brooklyn Law School expressed his gratitude to his Filipino mother for instilling in him the values of respect for
elders, focus on education, and pride in his familial and patriotic heritage.

Ms Meredith Wittman, Director of Community Relations, spoke on behalf of Assemblyman Barnwell and recognized the
contributions of the Filipino-American community to the diversity of New York. She noted that their District in Queens is bustling
with active Filipino constituents, Filipino culture, and Filipino-run businesses that uplift the greatness of New York State.

The Northern Star Award, reserved for the graduate
who demonstrated dedication in community values was given by
the Organizing Committee to PGRAD Founding Partner Kristina
Kalaw Joyas, who earned her Master in Nonprofit Management
from Columbia University. Kristina, who founded Legacy NY,
which promotes mentoring college students on community
engagement and advocacy, recalled her pride in seeing the
youth sector’s enthusiasm in asserting their Filipino roots and
connecting to the Philippines.

During the intermission, FUSION, the Filipino student

PGRAD 2017 Class Photo. Graduates proudly don their PGRAD medals with organization of the City University of New York – Baruch
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega (center) and Vice Consul Khrystina College performed their Battle of the Barrios-winning Modern
Corpuz (1st from left 2nd row)
Dance routine to the delight of the audience.