PH Consulate General Hosts Appreciation Event on 1st Talakayan Series
Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin delivers her welcome remarks at the start of the Appreciation Event for the 2018 Paskuhan Planning Committee and the 2019 MIswest YouLead Immersion Program participants. (Jason DelaRosa photo)
CHICAGO 22 February 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago hosted an appreciation event for the 2018 Paskuhan Planning Committee and the Midwest 2019 YouLead Immersion Program participants during the Consulate General’s first Talakayan Series for 2019 at the Consulate General’s Kalayaan Hall on 15 February 2019.
In her welcome remarks, Consul General to Chicago Gina A. Jamoralin thanked the Filipino Community and expressed her appreciation for the support and active involvement of the community that led to the success of the two milestones in the history of the Consulate General: the 2018 “Paskuhan sa Chicago and Simbang Gabi” on 15 December 2018 and the 2019 Midwest YouLead Immersion Program on 03-09 January 2019.
“Since the establishment of the Philippine Consulate in 1948, it has always been the mission of the Consulate to foster unity, camaraderie and community leadership among its Filipino diaspora in the Midwest. I would like to assure you that the Philippine Consulate would continue to pursue another year of greater engagement with the younger generation of Filipino-Americans and the fast-growing Filipino community in the Midwest,” Consul General Jamoralin said.
The first part of the program is a video presentation on the recent Midwest YouLead Immersion Program on 03-09 January 2019 consisting of 12 delegates sent by the Consulate General to the Philippines to reconnect with their Filipino identity.
Two participants, John Graeme Philipps and Veronica Garrick, gave a testimonial and shared their experiences and learnings about the Immersion Program.
Of Greek and Filipino parentage, Mr. Philipps admitted that he does not look like a Filipino at all but it did not stop him from owning his Filipino identity.
Ms. Garrick, on the other hand said that “not because I was born outside the Philippines does not make me less of a Filipino.”
It was followed by a video presentation about the Paskuhan event celebrated in Seafood City on 15 December 2018 by more than 250 individuals in attendance.
Chaired by the Consulate General, the “2019 Paskuhan sa Chicago’s” planning committee was composed of about twenty Filipino Community organizations whose objective is to bring together community leaders and members to celebrate Christmas with fun and entertainment the Filipino way. END
John Graeme Philipps (left) and Veronica Garrick (right), participants of the 2019 Midwest YouLead Immersion Program, share their respective experiences and learning on the recent cultural immersion in the Philippines on 03-09 January 2019. (Arnel Santiago photo)
Presentation of souvenir photo from the 2019 Midwest YouLead participants to Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin (center). (From left) John Graeme Philipps, Christopher Garrick, Daphne Constantinides, Veronica Garrick, Nina Mondero, Alyssa Solomon and Everett Icao. (Arnel Santiago photo)
The audience while enjoying the video presentation of the 2018 “Paskuhan sa Chicago and Simbang Gabi” held at the Market Mix Hall in Seafood City on 15 December 2018. (Arnel Santiago photo)
For more information, visit www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago/.