PHL Consulate General in Chicago Hosts Community Event with Filipino Family Court Judges
Seated from left: Consul Melchor P. Lalunio Jr., Mr. Nic Torre, Program Director of Consuelo Foundation, Judge Joselito Vibandor, Judge Amy Avellano, Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge, Judge Angelene Quimpo-Sale, DCG Romulo Victor M. Israel Jr., Consul Anna Ericka T. Abad, and Ms. Monina Canete of Century 21. Other members of the audience join them in the photo session, including Mr. Joe Vicente, Area Head 3 of LBC and co-sponsor of the event and Mr. Mariano Santos, Publisher of Pinoy Magazine and USA Central Area Commander of the Knights of Rizal and Cultural Officer Liezel Alcantara.
28 November 2017 CHICAGO — Three distinguished family court judges from the Philippines spoke on the various aspects of the Family Code and family court proceedings to an audience of community leaders, legal practitioners and consular officers and staff at the 29th “Pagkikita sa Konsulado” in Chicago on November 09.
Hon. Amy Alabado-Avellano, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 58, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; Hon. Joselito D.J. Vibandor, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 199, Las Pinas City; and Hon. Angelene Quimpo-Sale, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 106, Quezon City were introduced by Mr. Nicanor Torre, Program Director, Consuelo Foundation Philippines. Mr. Torre also introduced the Philippine and Hawaii-based Consuelo Foundation which organized the U.S. Judicial Exposure Program with a view to helping the Philippine family court system enhance its sensitivity and effectiveness in handling cases that involve youth and children.
Judge Avellano explained that their very demanding exposure program included Illinois and Minnesota since these are two of only four participating states in the Family Court Enhancement Project, a federal initiative designed to improve custody and visitation processes for victims of domestic violence and ensure the safety of their children during and after court proceedings.
Judge Quimpo-Sale shared their experiences and insights from observing the Domestic Violence Court and Juvenile Court in Cook County and discussing with their American counterparts how they have adopted a system that protects the safety, privacy and wellbeing of children.
During the open forum, Judge Vibandor took turns with his colleagues in enlightening the audience on questions that touched on the salient provisions and general application of Philippine family laws, including marriage, annulment, adoption, family abduction, and children in conflict with the law.
Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge welcomed and thanked the honorable officials of the Philippine judiciary and professors at the Philippine Judicial Academy for their dedication to excellence in performing a very crucial social function and their willingness to make themselves available to the Filipino community despite their tight schedule. He also thanked Mr. Joe Vicente, Area Head 3 of LBC Chicago, for co-sponsoring the event. END
For more information, visit www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph; www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago.