Page 3 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June

3January to June
2017

3rd Filipino-American Community General Assembly Takes Place in New York

The cast of Ms. Saigon led by Ms. Rachelle Ann Go (center) with Consul General De Vega (Center left),
GMA Pinoy TV Representative Grace H. Labaguis (Center Right), and members of the Filipino community.

With the theme “Connecting and Collaborating for Change”, 200 representatives of 95 Filipino-American community
organizations throughout the US Northeast participated in the 3rd Filipino-American Community General Assembly held on 18
February 2017 at the Philippine Center.

The whole day event was an opportunity for the organizations to be updated on the highlights of the past year as
well as the new initiatives of the Consulate for 2017 under the new leadership of Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De
Vega who recently assumed her post at the Philippine Consulate General New York at the end of October 2016.

In her welcome remarks, Consul General Dizon-De Vega underscored that the event serves as a platform for
community leaders, members, volunteers and organizations to develop closer linkages, synergy, and collaboration. She
further emphasized that the Consulate is honored to organize this undertaking in cooperation with partners in the community
in order to develop a stronger sense of connectivity among the Fil-Am community.

The morning session was an occasion for the representatives from Philippine Trade and Investment Office (PTIC),
Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) and Pag-IBIG Fund to address the community and to apprise them on their
respective projects and plans.

For this year’s Assembly, DTI Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado provided the community with updates on the
Philippine growth story and the Duterte Administration’s centerpiece 10-point Socio-economic agenda designed to ensure the
country’s sustainable and inclusive growth agenda.

The Consulate General’s partners from Philippine Airlines (PAL), GMA Pinoy TV, and the Philippine National Bank
(PNB) shared their respective services for the Filipino community.

The second half of the Assembly consisted of a breakout session where all participants contributed their inputs on 6
discussion topics namely, Promotion of Philippine Culture and Tourism; Filipino-American Political Engagement; Philippine-
US Economic Engagement; Migration and Immigration Related Matters; Giving Back to US Communities; and Giving Back to
the Philippines. The inputs will be considered for possible implementation in the future.

The group inputs were presented to the plenary by representatives from
among the Community participants. A summary of the General Assembly
proceedings closed the program for the day while a full report will be made
available to all delegates.

As an immediate output of the General Assembly, the Consulate in
partnership with GMA Pinoy TV, will publish an updated Directory of Filipino
Community organizations that provided updated contact information.

Ms. Rachelle Ann Go of the forthcoming production of Ms. Saigon
likewise made a brief appearance at the Assembly. Souvenirs for the delegates
including a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines were raffled off at the event.

DTI Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado apprises the Filipino The 2017 General Assembly had the highest attendance yet recorded
community on the Philippine growth story (photo by NYPCG) for the activity, a manifestation of increasing engagement and commitment of
the FilAm Community. The next edition of the General Assembly is slated for
early 2018.