Page 38 - 2018 JAN-JUN KAAKBAY

38 January to June
2018

New York Consulate Caps Women’s Month with Wellness Session

The Philippine Consulate General in New York
invited women from the Filipino Community to take part in a
Wellness Session featuring Zumba routines led by
instructor Shiran Ybañez on 27 March 2018 at the
Philippine Center in New York. The activity capped the
month-long commemoration of Women’s Month by the

Philippine Consulate General.

The event aimed to promote awareness of

women’s health and more sustainable lifestyles.
Acknowledging the multi-faceted tasks undertaken by
women in the Filipino-American Community, the Consulate
General aims to do its part in promoting greater health and
wellness awareness.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega Women of the Filipino-American community in New York and New Jersey availed of
welcomed Mr. Ybañez and participants from the Filipino the Zumba wellness class hosted by the Philippine Consulate General last 27 March at
Community. Officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate the Philippine Center (PCGNY Phtoto)
General and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations
likewise took part in the Wellness session.

PHL Team bags Basketball Championship

(L) DCG Kerwin Tate delivers remarks during Know Your Rights Seminar. (R)
Members of Filipino community in Connecticut during the open forum.

( Continued from page 37...Know your rights seminar…) PHL Basketball Team in its Semi Finals match in the NJ Ballers
Winter Basketball Tournament
Atty. Licelle Cobrador, immigration lawyer and the
current Executive Director of the Filipino American Legal As part of its ongoing effort to engage with Filipinos
Defense Education Fund (FALDEF) provided a briefing on and Filipino-Americans in the US Northeast Region through
important immigration information and immigration Sports Diplomacy, the Philippine Consulate General in New
developments under the present U.S. leadership. Atty. York personnel formed the PHL Basketball Team and
Cobrador, who is also an active member of Post’s Warden participated in the NJ Baller Winter Basketball Tournament in
Geographic System, discussed the major shifts in Jersey City, New Jersey from January 28 – April 22, 2018.
immigration policies of the Trump administration. She also
provided tips on what to do when an individual is confronted The PHL Basketball Team, composed of personnel
by an Immigration Officer. from the Consulate General and the Philippine Mission to the
United Nations, their family members and friends, played
Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate, the their hearts out and surprisingly won the Championship in
Acting Head of Post, provided a briefing on the current one of the Divisions.
thrusts of the Philippine Consulate’s programs and activities
particularly on the Consulate’s Assistance to Most of the participants in the said tournament come
Nationals’ (ATN) initiatives. DCG Tate also emphatically from New Jersey, New York and nearby states such as
mentioned the Philippine Consulate’s determination to Pennsylvania. There were two Divisions with 9 teams in each
combat human trafficking and the continued effort by the Division.
Department to stamp out immigration scams that victimize
Filipinos. The participation in the tournament enabled the Consulate to
strengthen connections and rapport with Filipino community
DCG Tate expressed his thanks to the officers and teams and families who joined in the said tournament.
members of PACI for their willingness to be even more pro-
active in working together to stop the victimization of Filipinos
in Connecticut and in other parts of the East Coast.