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The Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago was
established in 1948. It aims to foster
close and mutually beneficial relations between the Philippines
and the Midwest region of the United
States, particularly in the fields of trade, investments,
tourism, culture and people-to-people rela-
tions. The Consulate also services the consular requirements of
the growing Filipino community, extends
assistance to nationals in distress and conducts regular
outreach programs to the 16 states under its ju-
risdiction. These states are: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The Consul Generals typical day is a reflection of the aims of
the Consulate General. He is often
meeting prospective investors to the Philippines, his fellow
diplomats, and federal, state and local offi-
cials. He is also frequently attending the functions of the
Filipino-American community.
Among the ongoing major thrusts of the Consulate General are:
campaign for Filipino-Americans
to avail themselves of Philippine citizenship by means of
Republic Act 9225 also known as the Dual Citi-
zenship Act; inviting all qualified Filipino Overseas Voter
applicants from the Midwest to file applications
for registration, certification and transfer of registration
records; encourage all Filipino-American Organi-
zation to apply for recognition from the Consulate General; the
accreditation of Notaries Public with the
Consulate General; and the invitation for Filipino-American
Community leaders to the monthly meet-up at
the Consulate every third Thursday of the month.
The Consulate General looks at the members of the
Filipino-American community as excellent
partners in promoting the Philippines in their respective areas
and strengthening the link between the
Philippines and the US Midwest.
The Consulate General is located at 122 S Michigan Avenue, Suite
1600, Chicago, Illinois
60603. Its contact details are: tel: 312.583.0621; fax:
312.583.0647; website: www.chicagopcg.com and
email: [email protected]. For those with Facebook accounts, you
may keep up to date with all an-
nouncements by the Consulate General by going to its Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/chicagopcg
and clicking like.
Whats Inside?
NaFFAA Illinois...... 2 Pictures .3 Region 3West...4 News
Round-Up.......5 Natural Medicine......6 Global Summit..6
Announcements....7 Membership Form....8
Officers and staff of the Consulate General with Chicago
officials after com-pleting the Chicago Community Emergency
Response Team training
One of the monthly meet-ups in the Consulate General
The Consul General with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
The Consulate General Office along Chicagos North Michigan
Avenue
Leader on the Spot: Consul General Generoso Calonge
Philippine Consul General in Chicago
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March 29, 2015. This year's theme, "Challenge - Action -
Change," addresses con-
cerns within a triad of topics: economy, healthcare, and youth.
"Not only do we want
to provide an educational forum for the community," says Abbey
Eusebio, chair of
the 2015 CEW Forum, "but, we also want to challenge one's
thinking, and encour-
age others to work towards positive change for themselves and
others."
The economic discussion focused on the proposal to raise the
minimum
wage in Illinois where voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot
measure to in-
crease the minimum wage to $10 an hour in 2015; the healthcare
segment clarified
the benefits covered under the Affordable Healthcare Act; and
the youth portion
addressed the $1-trillion student loan debt a looming financial
crisis that could
negatively impact the quality of life for students decades after
they graduate. Abbey
Eusebio, who is the NaFFAA Illinois Vice Chair and Forum Chair
moderated the
forum discussion.
A sit-down dinner immediately followed the forum at the Crowne
Plaza Ho-
tel in Rosemont, IL, where a new batch of Empowered Women was
inducted. The
CEW is a network, founded in the Midwest in 2004, which provides
mutual support,
leadership growth, and experience sharing, to create the
foundation for lasting per-
sonal and social change. Lynette Torres, current NaFFAA Illinos
vice chair, led the
general planning of this year as the 2015 CEW Overall Chair. IL
State Chair Cindy
Flores has been instrumental in spearheading the overwhelming
success of CEW
both in 2014 and 2015.
The following were inducted to the 2015 CEW by Philippine Consul
General Chicago Generoso Calonge at Crowne Plaza Hotel: Geri
Aglipay, Kulsum Ameji, Edith Ardiente, Jovie Cal-ma, Dionalane
Cannon, Donna Fahrenbach, Rian Mari Fran-cisco, Eleanor Gonzales,
Anjana Hansen, Jeannie Hoffman, Linda Hou, Maria Isabel Lopez,
Christina Madridejos Mancini, Josina Morita, Megan Nakano, Iris
Sagrado, and Luyang Yang. Please find profiles of these empowered
women at the newly-launched website at www.naffaaillinois.org.
2015 CEW Keynote Speaker NaFFAA Na-tional Vice Chair Emraida
Kiram (seated L), with Chicago Consul General Generoso Calonge and
other guests
NaFFAA IL State Chair Cindy Flores with the events host, Ms.
Rose Tibayan
NaFFAA Illinois Inducts Stellar Group of Empowered Women
This years batch includes accomplished women in the fields of
law, medicine, business, journalism and community leadership.
Photos by 2015 CEW Inductee Dionalane Cannon/Rosalina Shea
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More Pictures at NaFFAA Illinois Circle of Empowered Women
Event
Illinois State Chair Cindy Flores with National Vice Chair
Emraida Kiram and NaFFAA IL Treasurer Lynnette Torres
2015 Circle of Empowered Women Inductees
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Philippine Consul
General in Chicago Generoso Calonge with one of the inductees,
Philippine movie star Maria Isabel Lopez
Illinois State Chair Cindy Flores with IL Secretary of State
Jesse White, NaFFAA Officers Lynnette Torres Rose Tibayan and
Community Leader Carmen Estacio
Illinois State Chair Cindy Flores (4 from L) joined by inductees
Maria Isabel Lopez (5 from L) and Jovie Calma (3rd from L), members
of Chicago Philippine Press Club and some Chicago community
leaders
Thank you very much Jhun and Chaziel from JC Patron
Photography for the beautiful pictures!
From the Editor!
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The 6th Biennial Humanitarian Mission co-sponsored by the
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)
Region 3 West (consisting of Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, & Wisconsin), Pagbilawin Foundation, Hou-ston Royal
Oaks Lions Club, Tuy Club USA and the Carandang/Chua Family, was a
huge success. Close to 2,000 needy patients availed of the free
medical, dental and optical services in the towns of Balayan,
Nasugbu, and Tuy in Batangas, and in Lubang Island, Occidental
Mindoro. Over 30 volunteers from all over the U.S. joined the local
volunteers who served the beneficiary municipalities: 14 from
Illinois, 7 from California, 1 from Nevada, 4 from Texas, 2 from
Tennessee, 2 from Ken-tucky, and 1 from Washington. The Espineli
Family's home in Balayan, became the home away from home of some
volun-teers from the USA during the mission in Batangas. This year,
Map International and World Medical Relief were the sources of the
medicines, medical & dental equip-ment, and medical supplies,
and we only paid for their related administrative costs. Young
Innovations, Inc., donated tooth-brushes which we provided to the
dental patients and some local volunteers. Dental anesthesia and
some supplies were purchased in the Philippines. AMLI Property
Management donated used desktop & laptop computers, which we
donated to the various schools & barangays in the beneficiary
municipalities. The mission in Balayan was made possible through
the help and support of Municipal Councilor Francisco "Cocoy" Ramos
and the Captains of the 4 beneficiary barangays, who provided the
food & refreshments. In Tuy, Municipal Mayor Jey Cerrado and
Municipal Doctor Pilar Adrias were instrumental in the success of
the mission there, also providing delicious lunch. We were also
treated to dinner, singing & dancing at the Gavana Resort by
Mr. & Mrs. Rey Carandang. In Nasugbu, former Mayor Tony
Barcelon, with the help of the Knights of Columbus, obtained
permission from the Parish priest to hold the mission at the Parish
Hall. We were also treated to a sumptuous lunch and morning &
afternoon native meriendas, through the kindness of the former
mayor's family and our friend, Boy Mulingbayan. In Lubang Island,
Mayor Juan Sanchez, his fami-ly and members of the municipal staff
were credited for the smooth and very organized mission. The food
& lodging accom-modations were provided by Air Link
International Aviation College.
2015 NaFFAA R3West Mission in the Philippines: Touching lives,
fulfilling dreams, providing hope
Volunteers with Lubang Mayor Juan Sanchez Mission Team providing
dental services Mission Team providing medical services
March 28, 2015, NaFFAA R3West, in collaboration with the Chinese
Mutual Aid Association, presented a Know Your Rights forum in
Chicago that dis-cussed relevant topics such as DACA and civic
engagement. NaFFAA was represented by R3West Chair Jelly Carandang
and National Vice Chair Emraida Kiram. Chinese Mutual Aid
Association was represented by its Ex-ecutive Director Dennis
Mondero (photo below).
Region 3West Presents Know your Rights Forum, Collaborates with
another agency
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After careful hearing on the proposed ordinance to amend the
Citys Transportation Code, the City of San Francisco eventually
passed on March 19, 2015, an ordinance banning tour bus drivers
from narrating while driving. (L-R) Rodel Rodis, Anthony Remo Luna,
Jinni Mabalot Bar-tolome and Rudy Asercion attended the Board of
Supervisors hearing.This advocacy is in honor of Precy Moreto (RIP)
who was fatally run over by a tour bus last October 23, 2014 in
front of San Francisco City Hall. NaFFAA Region 8 officially
introduces Attorney Anthony Luna as a new member of NaFFAA R8 and
currently is the designated spokesper-son on civil rights matters
affecting Filipino-Americans. Rudy Asercion is also taking over
NaFFAA Region 8 Chair effective April 2015.
NaFFAA Region 10 Co-sponsors Philippine Economic Partner-ships
event on March 19, 2015 in San Diego, CA. Shown in picture (L-R)
are Honorary Philippine Consul General Audie de Castro, Myles
Co-losa, Philippine Am-bassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia Jr., New
NaFFAA Re-gion Chair Myrna Reyes and Jr. Amor.
NaFFAA News Round-Up
San Francisco, CA
San Diego, CA
Covington, KY Jessica Cox Speaks at the Region 3East Regional
Conference August 1, 2015 http://www.naffaa-r3east.org Jessica Cox
has famously eliminated the words I cant from her vocabu-
lary. Although born without arms as the result of a birth
defect, she has never al-
lowed that to be a limiting factor. While she suffered from
self-esteem issues early on
and physical challenges throughout her life, Jessica managed to
overcome and
achieve earning a college degree and a Taekwondo black belt,
learning to drive a
car with her feet, type with her toes, and in 2008 fly an
airplane. That feat landed her
in the Guinness Book of World Records and led to an audience
with the Pope, meet-
ings with heads of state, and a great deal of media attention.
Recently married, Jes-
sica continues her journey. In the present, she has turned the
tables on her so-called
disability, allowing it to enable her as a motivational speaker
and advocate in the
USA and beyond. In the future there is no telling where her feet
will take her.
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The Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot, making it favorable
for the discovery of novel compounds from indigenous land and
marine species. Successfully commercialized herbal drugs with
various indications that were developed through ac-ademic research
and development include: Vitex negundo tablets and syrup for
nonbacterial cough (see photo attached);
Blumea balsamifera tablets for urolithiasis and dieresis; Cassia
a lata lotion for fungal infection; and Mentha cordifolia tablets
as analgesic. The Philippine Department of Health in consultation
with The National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants
(Nirpromp) was estab-lished in 1977 to develop safe and effective
medicinal preparations from in-digenous plants to cushion the
effect of escalating Prices of drugs and to in-crease the
availability of drugs, especially in the rural areas. It involved
gov-ernment collaboration with various hospitals and academic
institutions, in both public and private sectors. These included
the University of the Philippines System, Ateneo de Manila
University, Central Luzon State University and Jo-se Reyes Memorial
Medical Center. Research-based Swiss healthcare company Novartis
has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at advancing the Philippine
Drug Discovery pro-
gram, particularly in the area of natural substance and products
research and development. A minimum of 15 years and a huge amount
of money is necessary to develop a single drug. However, with
proper strategic collaborations such as the part-nership with
Novartis, limited resources can be maximized and discovery cost
minimized to develop safe and effective medi-cines from indigenous
sources according to Science Undersecretary Amelia Guevara. The MOA
was signed in the Novartis campus in Basel, Switzerland last Dec.
12 2014 by Dr. Dhavalkumar Patel, head of Novartis Institutes for
Biomedical Research ( NIBR) Europe and Dr. Guevara, witnessed by
Alexandre Jetzer, senior advis-er for government relations and
member Emeritus of the Board of Directors of Novartis
International; Philippine Council for Health and Development
Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya and Novartis AMAC (Asia,
Middle East, Africa) head Carlos Garcia.
Medicines From Local Natural Source By Dr. Erlinda Rojas Santos
Member, NaFFAA Task Force on Health and Education Former NaFFAA
Region V Chair and Colorado State Chair International Federation of
University Women Triennial Conference Speaker on Herbal Medicine
University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America Vice
President-West, Convention Speaker on Philippine Herbals as
Pharmaceuticals
As a first time attendee of this global summit of Filipinos in
the Di-aspora, I can express awe and admiration for the efficient
and effective ac-tivities through the 3-day event. It was
educational as it opened my eyes to opposite aspects of the lives
of Pinoys abroad: Firstly, the affluence, influ-ence and
comfortable lifestyle of those who have progressed in their
enter-prises in public or private; and secondly, the sad plight of
Pinoys suffering from abuse, dangers, misfortunes in their jobs and
displaced families. The adulation poured on the participants as
"BalikBayanis" was well-deserved, but their contributions to the
Philippine economy in some instances were marred by the injustice,
when victimized with their properties (houses, lands, etc) being
misappropriated or grabbed while out of the country by
unscrupu-lous individuals, even relatives. Overall, the 3rd GS
deepened my love for my homeland with the call for action for its
development and the welfare of its people.
Dr. Erlinda Rojas-Santos (2nd from L) with Loida Nicolas Lew-is
(Center) and other Summit guests. Dr. Santos was the sole
representative from NaFFAA Colorado
We did represent our group with pride when we participated at an
impromptu presen-tation entitled, "Intergenerational Connectivity,"
wherein most of the NaFFAA officers present participated.
Jelly Carandang, NaFFAA Region 3West Chair, with another summit
guest (Center) and Anthony Guevarra, NaFFAA Region 6 Chair, taking
a selfie during the break.
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NaFFAA National is a monthly newsletter with the
goal of circulating information on NaFFAAs advoca-
cy events and projects, appointments, messages from
leadership and other related activities in the Filipino
American community.
Ryan Tejero
Editor-In-Chief
[email protected]
Contributing Editors
Eduardo Ed Navarra
[email protected]
Jon Melegrito
[email protected]
Bing Branigin
[email protected]
Please forward event announcements and news arti-cles in your
community for March issue by the 25th. Submission must be in word
format and pictures are
in jpeg or jpg formats.
Thank you to all March contributors! Ple
