Page 56 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June

56 January to June
2017

Till We Meet Again

FELIPE F. CARIÑO III, DEPUTY CONSUL GENERAL

Deputy Consul General Bong Cariño ended his 6-year tour of duty in New York in August 2017
after having served the Philippine Consulate in New York as head of the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN)
and Legal Section from 2011 to 2014, head of the Political and Economic Section from 2014 to 2017,
and as Deputy Consul General in 2017. He consistently worked in bringing together Filipino volunteers
from the 10 states under New York PCG’s jurisdiction to become part of the Warden System launched in
September 2013 which provides immediate assistance to Filipinos in distress due to man-made or
natural calamities and immigration-related concern. Together with then Consul General Mario de Leon, he also reached
out to Fortune Top 500 companies to present the Philippine investment climate and encouraged them to invest in the
country.

Prior to his assignment in New York, DCG Cariño was the Passport Director and Executive Director of the Office of
Consular Affairs of the DFA. His foreign assignment included a stint as Political Officer at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo,
Japan.

Currently, DCG Cariño serves as Director of the Office of Fiscal Management at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
He is also a lawyer by profession having obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo School of Law in 2000 and a BS
Management degree from Ateneo de Manila in 1996.

REYNALDO G. CARDENAS, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

The Consulate bid a bittersweet farewell to Rey as he retired from government service at the
Department of Foreign Affairs in June 2017. Rey is not new in New York since he was assigned twice at the
Philippine Consulate General both as Administrative Officer and at the Philippine Permanent Mission to the
United Nations.

Known for being soft-spoken, dedicated and professional, he was always thoughtful and calm in dealing with any
challenges the Consulate or the staff encountered, proving that it does not take a loud voice to accomplish tremendous things.
It was also in New York that Rey has pursued his passion for the arts through painting. Joining the Society of Philippine-
American Artists (SPAA) which was founded by the late Manuel Rodriguez Sr. in 1993, Rey had his first art exhibit at the
Philippine Center in 2014 and later on joined several exhibits of SPAA, where he also became the vice president.

WENDELL GLENN GAA

Wendell just wrapped up his first foreign assignment in New York in March 2017. A child of a diplomat,
Wendell spent a majority of his life traveling and living in different countries where his father, the late
Ambassador Willy Gaa, was posted. His exposure to different cultures has enabled him to adjust quickly and
effectively carry out his duties at the Consulate. His 6-year year stint at the Consulate was indeed very
productive as he efficiently served as Political and Economic Assistant as well as committed in assisting
various consular services from visa processing, passport processing to data encoding. He likewise carried out protocol tasks
and served as official photographer at numerous functions of the Consulate. Gifted with writing prowess, Wendell is a member
of the FilAm Press Club and is a contributor to The FilAm, an online magazine for Filipino Americans in New York. Known to
be an avid comics and Star Wars fan, he has also written several movie reviews for The FilAm.

Wendell is currently assigned in the Home Office at the Office of United Nations and Other International
Organizations (UNIO) and still writes for The FilAm.

Ka’akbay is a publication of the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York
Editorial Adviser: Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega Editor: Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz-Popov

Editorial Assistant: & Layout Editor: Mae Ermita Manubay
Contributors: Consul Felipe Cariño, Consul Kerwin Tate, Consul Arman Talbo, Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz, Olivia Osias-Magpile, & Beverly Pellosis

Photos taken by: Ryan Compendio, Carlos Cruz, Wilson Ros, Eric Silao, Art Romua, Charlie Nabo, & Boyet Loverita