06 April 2015 – Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr., accompanied by Filipino-American community members from New York’s 4th district and Consul Felipe Cariño, called on New York Representative Kathleen Rice in Garden City, New York, on March 27.
The Filipino community members accompanying Consul General De Leon were Ms. Dulce Barangan, Mr. Ben Vigilia, Ms. Letty Dayao, Mr. Rene Ballenas, Dr. Emilio Quines, Dr. Fely Quines, Dr. Evangeline Manjares, Ms. Mary Jane Leria, and Mr. Ramon Villongco.
Consul General De Leon and the Filipino community members met with Representative Rice to exchange views on key issues relating to US-Philippine bilateral relations and to seek her support on issues affecting Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, such as House Resolution (HR) No. 535 on the Philippine Veterans’ recognition and qualification for the Congressional Gold Medal.
HR 535 was filed by Representatives Juan Vargas and Mike Thompson, both Democrats representing California. The bill seeks to obtain recognition for Filipino and Filipino-American WWII veterans for their services plus entitlement to full benefits, as well as qualification for the Congressional Gold Medal Award. Consul General De Leon noted that other minority groups such as the Navajo Indians, Women’s Corps, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Puerto Ricans have already received said award. Representative Rice, a first-termer representing New York’s 4th District, conveyed her support for veterans’ initiatives and promised to support HR 535.
Consul General De Leon also took the opportunity to invite Representative Rice to join the PHL-US Friendship Caucus. He said that the Caucus conducts activities that encourage friendship and partnerships between the US and the Philippines and that promote democracy and regional security. He said that New York Representatives Grace Meng, Peter King and Charles Rangel are already part of the Caucus. Representative Rice welcomed Consul General De Leon’s invitation to the Caucus and expressed her intention to become a member as soon as possible.
Lastly, Filipino community members suggested the participation of Representative Rice and her office in their programs to increase voter registration and also increase the participation of Filipino community members in local governance and politics. One Filipino leader remarked that “to know Filipinos better, Rep. Rice may wish to study the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero.”
There are about 6,200 residents in District 4, New York who are members of the Filipino community. They plan to erect a statue of Rizal in Nassau County, which is within the district. END