Pinoy News-Balita

Consul General’s Farewell Call to the Filipino Community during the Ika-31 Pagkikita sa Konsulado

From left to right (seated): Ms. Grace Villamora, Consul Ericka Anna T. Abad, Consul Melchor P. Lalunio, Jr., Consul General Generoso DG Calonge, Deputy Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr., Dr. Melinda Tolentino and Ms. Monina Cañete together with staff members of the Consulate General and members of the Filipino community. Photo courtesy of Mr. Arnel Santiago.

The Consulate General of the Philippine’s “Ika-31 na Pagkikita sa Konsulado” (monthly meet-up with members of the Filipino community in the Midwest) featured a “New Year Call on the Filipino Community by the Consul General” on 11 January 2018 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Consulate General.

The highlight of the Pagkikita was the farewell message from Consul General Generoso DG Calonge to the community. Consul General Calonge expressed his appreciation for the support Filipino community leaders and members had extended to him and the Consulate General throughout the years. He hoped that the same would be given to his incoming replacement.

Members of the community took turns in giving heartwarming remarks about their various experiences working with the Consul General. They also expressed their sincere thanks to the Consul General for his outstanding accomplishments and commitment as a public servant to the communities under his jurisdiction.

A surprise video clip on the major events the Consul General has attended was shown, together with the community events organized and participated in by the Consulate General.

To close the Pagkikita, Consul Ericka Anna T. Abad shared with the guests information on the upcoming activities of the Consulate.

In observance of a tradition in Filipino community gatherings, photo opportunities and a light reception concluded the evening’s very productive event. END

 

Exciting PH Destinations Highlighted in DC Launch of “Bring Home a Friend” Program

Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) – New York led the DC Launch of “Bring Home a Friend” program at the Philippine Embassy on 19 January 2018.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Filipinos and Americans alike attended the DC Launch of Philippine Department of Tourism’s Bring Home a Friend to the Philippines (BHAF) incentive program on 19 January 2018 at the Philippine Embassy.

A team from the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) in New York led by Tourism Attaché Susan Del Mundo spearheaded the launch of the BHAF program that appeals to the sense of nationalism and love of country of Filipinos residing and working abroad while giving them a chance to win attractive prizes.

“This is the perfect time to bring home a friend to the Philippines”, said Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick A. Chuasoto, emphasizing the importance of tourism in achieving inclusive economic growth while also commending DOT for its aggressive and engaging campaign to increase tourist arrivals in the country.

“One of the priority agenda of the present administration is to inculcate and instill love of country with dignity and courage, as well as develop a sense of pride for our country’s rich cultural heritage”, said Tourism Attaché Susan Del Mundo in her presentation.

“Tourism plays a key role towards a nation’s progress. It applies as both a steady pillar and a solid backbone in nation building and development,” Ms. Del Mundo further underscored.

The BHAF program works in four easy steps; (1) Invite a friend to visit the Philippines; (2) Accept the invitation; (3) Travel to the Philippines; and (4) Register at www.bringhomeafriend. online.

Exciting prizes such as a condominium unit, a brand new car, gift certificate, and travel packages await both the sponsor and the invitee. The program will run until 15 April 2018.

PDOT-New York also presented various tourism promotional videos showing top tourism destinations of the country such as Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Siargao, Iloilo, and Palawan, to the delight of the audience.

In the discussion that followed, the audience had the chance to know more about the BHAF mechanics, prizes, and promotional activities and was treated to various Philippine tourism souvenir items in a fun Q&A trivia game about Philippines’ popular destinations.

PDOT-New York was in Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2018 Washington DC Travel and Adventure Show held at the Washington Convention Center on 20-21 January 2018. ###

 

PH Pavilion is Back in Boston for Seafood Expo North America 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. announced on 17 January 2018 that seven (7) Philippine seafood companies, with the support of the Philippine Government, will be participating in this year’s Seafood Expo North America (SENA 2018) —the largest seafood exposition in North America.

The Philippines is a prime source of the world’s premium quality, healthy, natural and sustainable seafood products. With 7,641 islands, blessed with bountiful natural resources, a selection of top quality fresh-chilled, frozen, ready-to-eat processed tuna, shrimp, octopus, milkfish and a variety of gourmet seafood await buyers at the Philippine Pavilion.

According to Dr. Josyline Javelosa, Agriculture Attaché to the United States and the Americas, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is once again hosting a Seafood Philippines Pavilion in Seafood Expo North America (SENA) on 11-13 March 2018 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to showcase the country’s finest produce for the buyers in this region.

“It’s a comeback for the Philippines in the US after promoting seafood products in Europe and Asia over the past two years,” Dr. Javelosa said.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez is inviting institutional buyers to catch the world’s best at the Philippine Pavilion located at Booth Number 3133 in SENA 2018. The participating Philippine seafood companies are Fisher Farms, Inc.; Phil-Union Frozen Foods, Inc.; Bluefin Seafood Export, Inc.; Nuevo Fresco Marine Trading Corporation; Jam Seafoods, Inc.; Well Delight Network Corporation; and Mommy Gina Tuna Resources Inc./ Citra Mina Canning Corp.

In view of the 1 January 2018 mandatory compliance date for the US Seafood Import Monitoring Program, the US and Philippine Governments, primarily through the US Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Fisheries and the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s BFAR worked together in preparing Philippine seafood exporters to help their importers in the US comply with the new program intended to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF).

Organizers of SENA report that the exposition features over 1,340 exhibiting companies from more than 50 countries. Exhibitors supply nearly every type of fish, seafood, and seafood-related product or service. Attendees include owners, proprietors, executive purchasing managers, category managers, private label program buyers and equipment and packaging buyers from retail, foodservice, and other business categories such as airline, bar/club, cruise line, distributor, fast food, government/military, grocery, high-volume catering, hospital, hotel, import/export, manufacturer, processor, resort, restaurant, school, supermarket and wholesale. ###