PH Consulate General in Los Angeles Conducts Mini Economic Briefing
Left photo: Consul Genera to Los Angelesl Adelio Angelito S. Cruz discusses the tourism projects of the current administration. center photo: Consul Rea G. Oreta provided a brief history of the Philippine economy. right photo: Claremont City Mayor Corey Calaycay expresses his appreciation to the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles for gracing the gathering of Filipino-Americans. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
LOS ANGELES 09 December 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, led by Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, met with the Filipino-American community in Claremont on 09 November 2019 upon the invitation of Mayor Corey Calaycay, a Filipino-American elected to the City Council in 2017 and appointed by the same Council to serve as Mayor on 11 December 2018.
The meeting was held at the Doubletree Hotel in the City of Claremont, CA and attended by over a hundred members of the community, academe and local government officials.
In Mayor Calaycay’s welcome remarks, he underscored the significant contributions of Filipinos to the City’s development and the importance of preserving Filipino-American heritage.
The meeting was the first mini-economic briefing conducted by the Consulate General in the City, where Consul General Cruz provided an overview of current tourism promotion programs of the Philippine government, as well as an update on consular services. The Consulate General’s Political and Economic Officer, Consul Rea G. Oreta, provided an overview of the history and current state of the Philippine economy.
The highlights of the presentation included the Philippines' macroeconomic fundamentals, credit ratings, infrastructure developments; Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions (MICE) destinations in the Philippines; implementation of online appointments for passport and dual citizenship applications, accession to the apostille convention and removal of red ribbons on legalized documents; and arrival of representatives from the Social Security System (SSS) and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) who have been providing their mandated services since their arrival in August.
The presentation ended with videos on “Build, Build, Build,” the New Clark Green City and the Department of Tourism’s top ten tourist destinations in the Philippines.
During the question and answer, the community took interest on issues of the West Philippine Sea, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, climate change, and other priorities of the current administration.
The meeting was an offshoot of the regular informal gatherings by the community which have been traditionally hosted at the homes of the members. In this first formal meeting, various groups performed cultural dances and OPM songs. Mayor Calaycay and another Filipino-American city official, Council member Jed Leano participated in the “Tinikling”.
City officials estimate that there are about 300 Fil-Ams in Claremont.
Also joining Consul General Cruz were Information Officer Mary Grace “Joss” Leaño, and Consular Assistant Edgardo C. Lim. END
second photo: Claremont CIty Mayor Corey Calaycay and Council member Jed Leano participated in the” Tinikling”. (1st, 3rd, and 4th photo) Various groups performed cultural dances and Original Pilipino Music (OPM) songs. (Los Angeles PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA/.