Page 28 - 2018 JAN-JUN KAAKBAY

28 January to June
2018

Philippine Consul General Meets US Congressman Consul General Dizon-De Vega
Cicilline of Rhode Island Meets Brooklyn Borough President

Consul General Ma. Theresa Eric Adams
B. Dizon-De Vega met on 20 February
2018 with United States Congressman Brooklyn Borough Council President Eric Adams and Consul
David Cicilline (D) of the 1st District of General Theresa Dizon-de Vega at Borough Hall.
Rhode Island on 20 February 2018 at
his district office in Pawtucket. Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega
met with Brooklyn Borough Council President Eric
Consul General De Vega and (L-R) Congressman David Cicilline, Adams on 02 March 2018 to thank him for the
Congressman Cicilline discussed the Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon support extended to the Filipino Community in the
overall bilateral relations between the -De Vega Borough of Brooklyn, New York City.
Philippines and the U.S., as well as
issues ranging from immigration to While the largest concentration of
health matters that concern the Filipinos reside in the Borough of Queens, several
Filipino-American community in his thousand call Brooklyn home. There is likewise a
district. growing number of Philippine-owned and operated
culinary establishments in the Borough which is
The Consul General also renowned for its diverse and popular restaurant
extended an invitation to Congressman Cicilline to join the US- offerings, particularly for young families and
Philippines Friendship Caucus in the US Congress. Also present professionals as well as millennials.
during the meeting were the Consulate General’s Political Officer
Consul Arman R. Talbo and Mr. Roger Suchite, Assistant Director of Among the popular Filipino-run eateries in
the Office of Congressman Cicilline. Brooklyn are Purple Yam, Swell Dive, FOB,
Tama, Lumpia Shack Snackbar, Pan-Asian
Ambassador Romualdez Restaurant Talde, and popular coffee house
Mountain Province Coffee plus other
Meets Congressman establishments which are contributing to the
Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA) mainstreaming of Philippine cuisine.

Philippine Ambassador to the Consul General De Vega congratulated
US Jose Manuel G. Romualdez met Mr. Adams and the Brooklyn Borough Council for
with Congressman Joseph Kennedy III spearheading activities which promote greater
at Rep. Kennedy’s Constituency diversity and inclusion in New York City. In
Office in Newton, Massachusetts on 09 particular she cited the Borough’s International
March 2018. Day of Friendship held in 2017 which was
participated in by the Philippines.
During a very cordial and
Borough President Adams reiterated his
lively exchange Ambassador sincerest appreciation for the presence of Filipinos
in Brooklyn and looked forward to more
Romualdez and Rep. Kennedy Consul General Theresa Dizon-De collaboration with the community. He noted that
discussed matters of mutual concern in Vega, Amb. Romualdez and Rep. among future Borough projects would be the
the areas of Philippines-US defense Kennedy in Massachusetts holding of Heritage Days honoring the different
and security relations, recent ethnic communities represented in Brooklyn,
including the Filipino-American Community.
developments in the Asia-Pacific Region, Counter-Terrorism, Climate

Change, the Philippine government’s Anti-Drug campaign, and how

to further enhance Philippines-US relations. Both likewise cited the

strong people-to-people ties between the Philippines and the US.

Ambassador Romualdez extended an invitation to
Congressman Kennedy to once again visit the Philippines after
joining a US Congressional Delegation Visit in February 2014 during
which the Congressman had the opportunity to visit the
Ambassador’s home province of Leyte after the devastation caused
by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

Congressman Kennedy who is currently serving his third
term represents the 4th District of Massachusetts in the US House of
Representatives. He is the son of former Congressman Joseph
Kennedy II, the grandson of the late Senator and former Attorney
General Robert F. Kennedy and grand-nephew of the late President
John F. Kennedy.