19 March 2015 - A special Consular Outreach was conducted by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on March 05 for the benefit of the West Bay Seniors. This dynamic group is made up of the men and women who participate in the Kapihan, Kasamahan at Kwentuhan (K3) Seniors Program of the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center. A total of thirty Filipino American senior citizens came to the Social Hall of the Philippine Center accompanied by Ms. Cecile Ascalon, Family Support and Case Manager at West Bay and other West Bay volunteers.
The occasion was fondly dubbed by the Seniors as the Field Trip to the Philippine Consulate General. Aside from applying for the reacquisition of their Philippine citizenship and registering as overseas voters, the trip was an opportunity for the Seniors to visit the Consulate General and meet its officers and staff.
Ms. Mariza Bensurto and several Consulate General officers and staff assisted and guided the visitors in their applications. They were also at hand to interact and attend to all the needs of their respected guests.
Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon briefed the guests on the benefits of dual citizenship. He also informed the Seniors of the Balikbayan Privilege, a special immigration privilege in the Philippines that is accorded to Filipinos or former Filipinos and their immediate family members. On the other hand, Consul Reginald Bernabe discussed the procedure for overseas voting.
Arguably one of the most fulfilling Consular Outreach that the Consulate General has ever conducted, the success of the event was matched by the invaluable experience of spending time with one of the most important, albeit underserved sector of the Filipino American community.
The K3 Seniors Program is a weekly program that is designed to teach Filipino seniors on leading and maintaining a healthy and independent yet community involved way of life. It is one of the leading programs in West Bay. To learn more about the K3 Seniors Program and the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, please check their website at westbaycenter.org. END