PH Consulate General Meets Councilor, Holds Consular Outreach in Kansas

Overland Park City Council member (fifth ward) Dr. Faris Farassati (leftmost) takes a light moment with Filipino Association of Greater Kansas City President Ernesto Rosas (center) and one of FA-GKC’s Founder Dr. Lillian Pardo (right). (Chicago PCG photo)

CHICAGO 29 October 2018 – With the leaders of the Filipino Association of Greater Kansas City (FA-GKC), the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago met Overland Park City Councilor (Ward 5) Dr. Faris Farassati at the FA-GKC’s Filipino Cultural Center on 06 October 2018.

The 5,400 square foot center is the venue for the Filipino Community’s dance and choir rehearsals, cultural presentations, exhibits, educational workshops, and social activities.

Discussed during the meeting was the outline of a sister city agreement between Overland Park and a city in Metro Manila—a proposal that was initiated by Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin during the Asian Business Summit in Kansas in May of this year.

According to the Councilor, the agreement “can be used as a way to open specific, collaborative activities between the two cities, like hospital-to-hospital venture projects, exchange visits of both cities’ officials, business delegations, and even artists’ performances.”

FA-GKC President Ernesto Rosas toured Dr. Farassati around the center and briefed him about the activities that the association has lined up until 2019. Stating that his office strongly supports any project that promotes cultural understanding through community volunteerism and work, Dr. Farassati encouraged the Association to submit project proposals for its planned activities and other projects.

Upon the request of FA-GKC, a team from the Consulate General conducted a two-day consular outreach on 06- 07 October 2018.

The outreach, which was similarly held at FA-GKC’s Filipino Cultural Center, attended to 256 applicants for e-passport, civil registration, and notarization and authentication of documents. The consular mission team also processed 49 applications for dual citizenship and provided information and advice on various issues related to adoption, correcting entries in civil records, and retirement to the Philippines.

Led by Consul Melchor Lalunio Jr., the members of the team include Anna Liza Alcantara, Jacqueline Cuevas, Jerwin Mamalateo, Sheridan Sabeniano, and Cornelio Santiago.

The team was assisted by FA-GKC leaders Ernesto Rosas, former President and FAGKC Outreach Chairman Rizvend Pecaña, and volunteers from the organization. END

For more information, visit www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph; www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago.

Consul Melchor P. Lalunio Jr. (left in black) administers the oath of reacquisition of Filipino citizenship. (Chicago PCG photo)