PH Embassy Holds Consular Outreach in Virginia Beach, Joins Anti-Trafficking Forum
Consul General Renato Pedro Villa delivers remarks at the anti-human trafficking forum held at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach, VA on 18 January 2019. (Washington D.C. PE photo)
WASHINGTON, D.C. 15 February 2019 – The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. conducted its first consular mission for 2019 in Virginia Beach on 18 to 20 January 2019.
On 18 January 2019, the consular team attended an anti-human trafficking forum at the Sandler Center, which was followed by a musical and eco-fashion show featuring the creations of Filipino designer Joseph Aloysius Montelibano. A portion of the show’s proceeds will benefit the local anti-trafficking non-government organizations Virginia Beach Justice Initiative and Butterfly House.
Consul General Renato Villa and Atty. Darlene Pajarito, a Prosecutor at the Philippine Department of Justice, talked about civil society and the government’s key roles to combat trafficking and providing aid and succor to victims.
A recipient of the Trafficking in Person Hero Award from the U.S. State Department in 2011, Atty. Pajarito is currently a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow at the American University in Washington, D.C.
The consular team rendered a total of 247 consular services during the two-day consular outreach mission, including 183 new and renewal passport applications, two lost passport applications, 11 dual citizenship applications, 15 civil registration, 36 notarials, and legalization.
Atty. Pajarito also provided individual legal advice and consultation to the consular applicants.
Consul General Villa also spoke at the 43rd Induction Ball of the United Ilocano Association of Tidewater and inducted the association’s elected officers for 2019-2020 on 19 January 2019.
He cited the group’s contributions and service to Filipinos in the U.S. and in Philippines through various humanitarian projects, shared key developments in the Philippines and in the two countries’ relations, encouraged Filipinos to exercise their right to vote in the May 2019 mid-term elections and reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to enhance its consular and assistance-to-national services under the leadership of Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez.
Virginia Beach is a city which is four hours drive away from Washington, D.C. with a population of more than 42,000 of Filipino origin, many of whom are professionals as well as serving or retired United States Navy personnel. END
Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito of the Philippine Department of Justice gives a comprehensive presentation on the Philippine efforts to combat trafficking in person and of the need to engage civil society and the community in such efforts during the eco-fashion and benefit gala for victims of human trafficking at the Sandler Arts Theater, in Virginia Beach, VA on 18 January 2019. (Washington D.C. PE photo)
The audience at the Sandler Theater in rapt attention during the human trafficking forum cum eco-fashion show. Aside from Prosecutor Pajarito, other speakers include Consul General Villa, Mayor Bobby Dyer of Virginia Beach, Patrick Mckenna of the Virginia Beach Justice Initiative, Char Miller of the Butterfly House and Naomi Estaris of Enjewel. (Washington D.C. PE photo)
Consul General Renato Villa leads the swearing-in ceremony of the new set of officers of the United Ilocano Association of Tidewater, Inc. after the association’s 43rd Inaugural Dinner and Induction-Ball at the Philippine Cultural Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 19 January 2019. (Washington D.C PE photo)
For more information, visit www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippineembassy-usa.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinUSA @philippinesusa on Twitter.