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| June 25, 2007 |
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| SFPCG “Consulate on Wings” Reaches the US Pacific Northwest Region |
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The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco reported today that it successfully completed its outreach missions in Seattle, Washington from 14-17 June 2007 and in Portland, Oregon from 18-19 June 2007 in coordination with the Filipino American community in both areas.
The “Consulate on Wings” team to Seattle and Portland was led by Consul Wilfredo C. Santos, with Tourism Director Rene de los Santos, Ms. Maria Sylvia B. Alfonso, Mr. Cesar Cruz, and Ms. Mary Rose Victorio. |
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Significantly, the consular mission to Seattle coincided with the official visit of Ambassador Willy C. Gaa to Washington State. The team provided assistance to Ambassador Gaa throughout his stay in Washington, including his visit to Olympia, the state capital, and his meetings with various officials, including Governor Christine Gregoire, Congressman Jim McDermott, Secretary of State Sam Reed, Olympia Mayor Mark Foutch, the officers and board of trustees of the Thurston Chamber of Commerce, and the officers of the William Kastner Law Firm.
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| Ambassador Willy C. Gaa (Left) meets with Filipino WW2 Veterans in Seattle. Present during the meeting was NaFFAA Chair Alma Kern (Center). |
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Members of the San Francisco Philippine Consulate General team tirelessly provided quality consular services to its clients in Portland, Oregon. |
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Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez said the consular missions to Seattle and Portland are an integral part of the work program of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, especially in reaching out to the large and growing Filipino American communities in these areas.
“For the year 2007, we have undertaken a total of six consular missions in various areas under our jurisdiction. This includes outreach services in Fresno in Northern California in January; Stockton also in Northern California in February; Reno, Nevada in March; Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska in May; and Seattle and Portland in |
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| the US Pacific Northwest in June, the same month we conducted similar services in both cities last year,” Consul General Sanchez said. |
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While a large part of the consular services consisted of applications for dual citizenship (155), the team also processed and released a total of 177 applications for passport issuance and renewal; 89 applications for legal, notarial and civil registry services; and 5 applications for verification of lost passports.
“These figures are unprecedented and they show the strong demand for consular services of our Filipino American communities in these areas,” said Consul General Sanchez.
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New Dual Citizens from all over Washington State and surrounding areas proudly take their oath before consulate officials from San Francisco. |
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Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington welcomes Ambassador Gaa during his visit to the state Capitol. (Fil-Am Councilmember David Della and Ms. Ellen Abellera from Seattle in background) |
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In Portland, Consul Santos accompanied by Tourism Director Rene de los Santos, Atty. Eric Tadeo of the Filipino American community, and Mr. Jess Osilla, President of Filipino American Veterans and Wives of Oregon, met with Ms. Joyce Fleming, District Director of Congressman Earl Blumenauer. Through Ms. Fleming, the consulate officials thanked Congressman Blumenauer for his membership in the RP-US Friendship Caucus and asked for his support to co-sponsor the pending Filipino Veterans Equity Act in the US Congress.
The team also conducted the Philippine Trade, Investment and Tourism Symposium at the Filipino Community Center in Portland on June 18. A separate presentation was made by the team on Dual Citizenship. Some fifty (50) leaders and members of the |
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| community based in Portland and other cities in Oregon attended the symposium which concluded with a forum where the attendees asked questions on dual citizenship benefits as well as tourism matters. |
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