The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco today reported that outreach services were successfully completed from July 21-23 2006 in Colorado in coordination with the Filipino American community in Denver and nearby areas.

The “Consulate on Wings” team to Colorado was led by Consul Wilfredo C. Santos, and composed of Special Trade Representative Maria Roseni M. Alvero, Vice Consul Arvic Arevalo, Ms. Wilma Bautista, Ms. Ana Riza Betanio, Mr. Graciano Fernandez, Mr. Jerry Vicedor, and Mr. Juan Gabriel Agcaoli from the Department of Tourism office in San Francisco.

The mission to Colorado was historic because it marked the first time that the consulate had conducted outreach services for the benefit of the Filipino American community in that part of the United States. The consular team also held separate meetings with state and local officials, including representatives of Colorado congressmen and US Senator Ken Salazar, as well with the directors of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Advance Colorado Center and the Colorado Software and Internet Association, and the Denver Office of Economic Development.

More than 300 members of the Filipino American community in Colorado and Americans showed up at the Filipino American Community of Colorado (FACC) center at Edgewater, Colorado to avail of consular and other services during the three-day period. The team answered queries, most especially in the area of dual citizenship, visa and overseas absentee voting and processed a significant number of applications for dual citizenship, passport and other consular requests.

While the bulk of consular services consisted of applications for dual citizenship (62), the team also processed 32 applications for passport renewal/issuance; and 31 applications for legal/notarial and civil registry services. 30 qualified Filipinos residing in Denver and nearby areas were also able to register as overseas absentee voters for Philippine elections.

Filipino American community leaders in Colorado extended overwhelming support to the consular team and conveyed their request for regular outreach services by Consulate representatives.

Consul Santos said that the growing Filipino American population in Colorado (estimated at 10,000 with about 5,000 concentrated in Denver) has laid the basis for the conduct of regular consular missions to that part of the United States.

“Our visit to Colorado is part of our commitment to reach out to the Filipino American communities in the different states under our jurisdiction. We note the growing desire of our Filipino Americans in Colorado to apply for dual citizenship and avail of its privileges,” he said.

For her part, Trade Commissioner Alvero said that establishing regular contacts with state and local officials of Colorado as well as the private sector is one way of promoting the interests of the country. “In view of the scheduled business missions from the Philippines to Colorado this October, there is a need to make sustained follow-ups with concerned business groups and private individuals in Denver to maximize the goals of these visits and draw in more investments to the Philippines,” she added.

The team also attended the concert of the San Beda Male Singers at the Broomfield Civic Center near Denver, where the oath taking of the dual citizenship applicants took place in simple ceremonies administered by Consul Santos. More than 150 people attended the oath-taking ceremonies, many of them family members of the new dual citizens.

Earlier, the team also conducted the Philippine Trade, Investment and Tourism Symposium at the FACC center. Trade Commissioner Alvero and Mr. Agcaoli from the Department of Tourism office in San Francisco made presentations on investment, trade and tourism opportunities in the Philippines. Around 50 people from the business sector which included President John Wright of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, President Lily Shen of the Asian Rountable of Colorado, and the Filipino American community led by NaFFAA Region 5 Chairperson Donna B. La Vigne attended the event.