Page 41 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June

41January to June
2017

Forum on the US Government System for Fil-Am Community Held in New York

The Filipino American Lawyers Association of
New York (FALA-NY), with the support of the
Philippine Consulate General, held an informative
forum on the US Government system at the Kalayaan
Hall of the Philippine Center on 9 June 2017.

Law Professor Rose Cuison Villazor of the

University of California and Atty. Andrew Villacastin of

the firm Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, the resource

speakers of the event, discussed the basic structure

and functions of the US government including the

legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and the

interaction between the federal government and the

state and local government units. Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega (8th from the right) with the officers of FALA-
NY, resource speakers, and some of the participants of the forum on the US Government
The forum provided the members of the system held in New York on 9 June 2017. To her left is Atty. Concepcion A. Montoya,
Filipino-American Community with a working overview current President of FALA-NY. To her right are Atty. Andrew Villacastin and Professor Rose
of the US government system which is useful in

understanding and navigating the different government Cuison Villazor, resource persons.

offices in the community they live and work in.

Filipino-Americans who have successfully entered the US political and governance arena were likewise discussed

as models for greater engagement of the Filipino-American Community.

The forum was the first of a series of events organized by FALA-NY which are focused on providing information and
assistance to the Fil-Am community in New York. The group also held a Know Your Rights forum on 16 June 2017 at the St.
Francis of Assisi Church in New York in partnership with the Migrant Center of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

American Jewish Committee New York (AJC), Philippine Consul General
Discuss Joint Projects and Initiatives

American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Jewish Advocacy
members led by Regional Director Michael Schmidt, and including of
Ms. Shira Loewenberg, Head, AJC Asia Pacific Institute, Ms.
Marlene Altman, and Ms. Francine Port held a meeting with Consul
General Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega at the Philippine Center to
discuss possible joint projects that can invigorate people-to-people
exchanges and promote closer ties between the Filipino-American
and Jewish communities in New York.

Consul General De Vega shared the Consulates key AJC Global Jewish Advocacy officials meet with New York Consul
objectives such as working on political- security matters, building General Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega to discuss joint projects.
bridges with the US, connecting with members of the US Congress
on legislative issues concerning the Philippines, promoting trade and
investment including a greated foothold in the kosher food market in
the US.

Ms. Loewenberg conveyed AJC’s interest to assist the Philippines and the Consulate in promoting Philippine political
and economic interests and identifying possible synergies between Jewish and Filipino-American communities.

The meeting also highlighted key issues pertaining to Philippine-Israel bilateral relations and the sharing of best
practices. The AJC members relayed their reports on the rise of anti-semitism worldwide while Consul General de Vega
addressed security concerns raised by AJC, including confronting violent extremism in the country and the ongoing peace
negotiations with the Communist and Muslim insurgencies.

She also mentioned the socio-economic programs of President Rodrigo Duterte and the excellent bilateral relations
between the Philippines and Israel.

Consul Felipe Carino III, Post’s Economic Officer, also reported on his recent participation in the AJC Project
Interchange Seminar held in Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, Israel last December 2016, and shared possible initiatives for future
collaborative activities between the Philippines and Israel.