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EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH IN WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA
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The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., in partnership with Fr. Michael Mecias, Parish Priest of the
Diocese of Wheeling, Charleston, WV conducted its first-ever consular outreach program in Wheeling, West
Virginia on June 4, 2010, Friday, at the St. Alphonsus Parish Hall.
The outreach program in Wheeling was part of the Embassy's continuing effort to bring its services closer to
Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in its consular jurisdiction.
The Embassy’s consular team accepted and processed applications for machine-readable passports, dual
citizenship, notarization of documents, and registration of births and marriages. The outreach program also
included an oath-taking ceremony for individuals who reacquired their Filipino citizenship under the Dual
Citizenship Law.
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Consul General Domingo P. Nolasco administered the oath of allegiance to naturalized
Americans who reacquired their Philippine citizenship.
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The Consular Team composed of Janet Falsis (far left), Lyrie Fulgencio (center) and Luisa
Remulla (far right) assisting applicants and processing consular documents.
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T’was PGMA’s turn to receive awards from educators
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What was slated as a presidential address on achievements and successful government initiatives in the
education sector at the Manila Hotel today turned into a surprise outpouring of citations and thanks to outgoing
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
Educators, students and stakeholders in the education sector mobbed the President as they moved in crowds
to greet her at the Manila Hotel’s Fiesta pavilion where she graced the 2010 Philippine Education Congress.
The President was originally scheduled to keynote the congress but decided to forego her prepared speech as
the jubilant crowds surge up the stage to greet her.
The President instead gave Education Secretary Mona Valisno a presidential citation and the Order of
Lakandula, a government honor in memory of to the pre-Spanish datu’s dedication to the responsibilities of
leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one’s people.
The President cited Valisno for steering the Department of Education (DepEd) in contributing to the successful
holding of the first-ever automated elections and for her dedicated public service in ensuring the quality of
country’s education system.
Just after donning the sash and pin on Valisno, the President was surprised to see people going up the stage
with their respective plaques and citations to be given to her.
First to go on stage were Drs. Mars Fernandez and Fay Lauraya and Ambassador Donald Dee for the National
Federation of Higher Educational Institution’s plaque of appreciation for outstanding leadership in public
service in advancing the public education system, curricular reforms, providing scholarships and focus on
research and development, which have helped elevate the Philippine education system closer to global
standards.
Then came the plaque from the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges expressing the
gratitude of the public educators for the efforts and focus provided by the President in ensuring excellence,
greater access and relevance of the Philippine public education system.
The third citation came from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the President’s
“unwavering support to business and industry through her fiscal and trade reforms that contributed to stability
and development” and for providing an effective link and relevance of the academic community to the
requirements of trade and industry.
But most touching of the citations was the small fiberglass plaque presented by five-year-old Sheryl Lumbang,
a preschoolder at the P. Gomez Elementary School who was able to finish preschool because of the
scholarship given by the President.
”Thank you for giving me a teacher who taught me how to sing, dance and play with other children; who taught
me to recite poems and other pieces and I enjoyed my schooling,” she said as the President watched
amusedly. They had a photo opportunity with the shy preschooler not knowing how to hand the President her
plaque.
Then came Jason Dacayanan, 12 years old, blind at birth and a grade 5 scholar of the President at the
Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City who expressed his gratitude on behalf of over 2,000
children-scholars.
“Now we are free from discrimination, we enjoy our studies, and we can enjoy the company of other students
as well,” he said.
The last expression of gratitude, with plaque, came from Jocelyn Belo of Sorsogon, a PGMA scholar who took
up a masters degree in Reading in 2006 to 2010. She is one of 31 teachers all over the country who passed
DepEd’s five-summer Teacher Scholarship Program.
This program is part of the continuing teachers, development training that allows teachers to pursue masters
degree in education originally for English, science and Math. This degree is offered at the University of the
Philippines.
Belo who teaches at the Matnog Central School in Sorsogon, vowed to serve as a model for other teachers to
pursue higher education so that they can elevate their teaching quality to global standards.
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AFP now truly professionalized-- PGMA
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today bid farewell to the Armed Forces of the Philippines saying she was
leaving it, as its Commander-in-Chief, a truly professionalized force solely guided by duty to the Filipino people
and Constitution.”
During an AFP testimonial parade in her honor at Camp Aguinaldo, the outgoing President offered her
congratulations and gratitude to the men and women in uniform for “giving their best” to serve the flag.
She he cited gains made with the military during her nine years as President and Commander in Chief.
She expressed hopes that the future leaders will build upon the achievements of her administration and
continue the programs she started.
“Indeed I fervently hope that the progress we have made will not stop. I hope that what remains to be done will
be picked up by the next generation of leaders,’ she said.
During Arroyo’s term, various reforms in the military were initiated under the Philippine Defense Reform (PDR)
program that strengthened the military institution, revised doctrines and modernized military equipment and
weaponry.
In her parting message to the troops, Arroyo commended the military with a Presidential Citation for its
significant contribution to the successful conduct of the first automated elections last May 10.
She also awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor to Bangit for his “untiring effort” and “sacrificial service” to
lead and mobilize the military that resulted to the successful automated polls.
The Legion of Honor is conferred upon a Filipino or a foreign citizen in recognition of valuable and meritorious
service in relation to the military affairs of the Philippines
She said: “I thank the AFP for this testimonial parade. More than that, for the last nine years, the best of your
efforts and skills sacrifices, passion to serve. A professional soldier is not politicized, instead he follows the
chain of command, in war and in peace, with the price of offering his or her life.”
The President said she has not wavered in her efforts to enhance soldiers’ welfare. “Soldiers will get another
round of increase in salary starting July 1”, she said referring to the three-year salary standardization law which
also covered the military.
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