Consul General Meets Filipino Law Students in U.S.
Consul General Claro S. Cristobal (sixth from left, second row) with Filipino-American lawyers (from left, first row) Betheena Dizon, Connie Montoya, Amanda Bernardo, Elizabeth Cueva, Patricia Sta. Maria, (second row) Vice Consul Tanya Faye Ramiro, Graciela Base, April Lacson, Agatha Ramos, Christine De Castro-Lejano, Patricia Peña-Drilon, Christian Drilon, Tim Dauz, Julianne Alberto, Dr. Nona Helena Palarca, (third row) Jayson Lopez, Alex Custodio, Luisa Mauricio, and Consul Arman Talbo. (New York PCG photo)
NEW YORK 15 February 2019 – Consul General Claro S. Cristobal met with Filipino lawyers taking up post-graduate studies at select universities in the United States at the Philippine Center on 25 January 2019.
The students are currently enrolled at Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, Yale University, Harvard University, and University of Michigan.
Consul General Cristobal noted the steady increase in the numbers of Filipino law students taking masteral programs in the East Coast, particularly in New York, and that the Consulate General will continue to reach out to Filipino student groups and help them establish networks with professionals from their chosen professions and with the Filipino-American community in the region.
He likewise encouraged them to be the Consulate General’s partners in assisting members of the Filipino-American community, particularly in legal matters.
The meeting afforded the students the opportunity to listen to insights from practicing Filipino-American lawyers Atty. Elizabeth Cueva of the New York State Department of Human Rights, Atty. Connie Montoya and Atty. Amanda Bernardo of the Filipino-American Lawyers Association in New York, and Atty. Betheena Dizon of SGV/Ernst and Young, on their experiences practicing law in New York vis-à-vis law practice in the Philippines.
The students expressed their appreciation to the Consulate General for reaching out and organizing the meeting, saying that the valuable information they gained from the fellowship had widened their perspective and networks. They committed to assist the Consulate General in strengthening the program so that future students from the Philippines would have a support system while studying in the East Coast.
Consul General Cristobal assured the group that the Consulate General will organize similar events at least twice a year and expand it to cover other professions as well. END
(From left) Atty. Betheena Dizon talks about her experience as an expat tax lawyer both in the Philippines and in New York. Atty. Connie Montoya speaks about the challenges of being a Filipino-American practicing law in New York. Atty. Amanda Bernardo talks about finding a niche in her law career assisting Filipinos on immigration-related cases. Atty. Elizabeth Cueva talks about her journey as a Filipino lawyer deciding to pursue a career in law in New York. (New York PCG photos)
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.