Page 37 - 2018 JAN-JUN KAAKBAY

January to June 37
2018

Widow Granted Financial Assistance by DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Philippine
Consulate General in New York, has extended financial help to the
family of the late Primo Ramos, who died in Jersey City in February
2018. Consul Kerwin Orville C. Tate, Acting Head of the Philippine
Consulate General in New York, handed a check to the widow, Mrs.
Evangeline Ramos, for Mr. Ramos’ funeral and repatriation of remains

to La Union.

Philippine sports fans of the 80’s may remember the late

Ramos, a former Philippine Navy enlisted man and athlete, who

represented the country in various marathons and distance running

events in the Philippines and in international competitions. He had been Consul Kerwin Orville C. Tate, Acting Head of the Philippine
in and out of hospitals in Jersey City in the past five years due to chronic Consulate General with Mr. Arturo Romua.
diabetes and finally succumbed on 10 February 2018.

Evangeline expressed her heartfelt thanks to President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Allan
Peter Cayetano for the financial assistance. She said the amount would be used as payment for the balance of expenses
their family had incurred with the funeral home that arranged for repatriation of Mr. Ramos’ remains to the Philippines.
Evangeline said that it was Primo’s final wish for his remains to be brought to Bauang, La Union.

Philippine Consulate General Witnesses Signing of A Philippine Consulate in NY Hosts
MOA on Preventive Education and Values Formation Know Your Rights Seminar on Immigration

In Response to the The Philippine Consulate General in New York,
Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy of the Philippines in partnership with The Pilipino Association of
Connecticut, Inc. (PACI) hosted a Know Our Rights
Ms. Nena Lozada-Smith, President of Friends Indeed, USA Inc. and Ret. Col. Rodrigo Seminar on Immigration at the Holy Spirit Church, in
D. Bonifacio, Founding Chairperson of People’s Volunteer Against Illegal Drugs sign Newington, Connecticut on 17 June 2018.
the MOA, with Vice Consul Tanya Faye Ramiro and the rest of the members of
Friends Indeed, USA, Inc. serving as witnesses (Photo by Cesar Loverita). The seminar was attended by more than 80
members of the Association and the Filipino community
The Philippine Consulate General in New York witnessed in Connecticut. Deputy State Director Joanna Cannon
the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of the Office of US Senator Chris Murphy discussed the
between Friends Indeed, USA Inc., a non-profit organization based Senator’s programs on immigration in Connecticut,
in the USA, and People’s Volunteer Against Illegal Drugs, a non- including services provided by their Office to all
government organization based in the Philippines last 27 May 2018 Connecticut residents, regardless of immigration status.
at Astoria World Manor, Queens, New York City. Ms. Cannon expressed the readiness of the Office of
Sen. Murphy to extend assistance to the members of the
The MOA aims to support the “war on drugs” of Philippine Filipino community.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Citing the policy of the state found
in the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act (Continue to page 38)
9165), of pursuing “an intensive and unrelenting campaign against
the trafficking and use of dangerous drugs and other similar (L-R) Atty. Licelle Cobrador, PACI President Carlo Gauat, Deputy Consul
substances through an integrated system of planning, General Kerwin Orville C. Tate, Deputy State Director Joanne Cannon of
implementation and enforcement of anti-drug abuse policies, the Office of US Senator Chris Murphy, PACI Treasurer Dr. Cory Vargas,
programs, and projects,” the People’s Volunteer Against Illegal and Past PACI President Erwin Buhat during the Know Your Rights
Drugs will undertake immersion programs in all barangays by Seminar in Connecticut
conducting “Preventive Education and Values Formation.” Friends
Indeed, USA, on the other hand, “will provide and conduct medical,
surgical, and humanitarian mission to the same barangays.”