Consul General Senen T. Mangalile
The Philippine Consulate General in New York hosted the 11th Filipino Community General Assembly at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center, gathering representatives from 80 Filipino organizations across the U.S. Northeast. The event, a cornerstone of the Consulate’s community engagement, celebrated the collective achievements of 2024 while unveiling initiatives for 2025, including the launch of the 2025 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour.
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile with Vice Consul Paolo Mapula
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile reported highlights of the consulate’s activities last year promoting Philippine culture, and supporting the Filipino community across the U.S. Northeast.
“As we embark on the new year, our consulate reaffirms its commitment to serving our kababayan in our jurisdiction with excellence and dedication,” Mangalile said. “We look forward to working with all of you as partners in promoting the Philippines in this part of the world. Filipinos have made good names for themselves here, and we, at the Consulate, are proud to be your safe space and advocates.”
The consul general proudly shared that four out of 13 awardees of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas by the Commission on Filipino Overseas are from the consulate’s jurisdiction, encouraging the organizations to continue doing their projects to uplift the community.
“I hope that we continue this and more of our community leaders and advocates and organizations will be recognized for their contributions not only to the Philippines but also to the fabric of American society,” the consul general said.
Atty. Alejandra “Dading” Clemente of Rajah Tours discussing the itinerary for the 2025 VIP Tour as Tourism Attachè Francisco Lardizabal looks on.
Mangalile likewise talked about the flagship projects of the consulate including Paaralan sa Konsulado every July, Philippine Graduation celebrating Filipino graduates from different colleges and universities, Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado, and Homecoming sa Konsulado, among others.
The assembly featured a video presentation of the Consulate’s 2024 accomplishments, showcasing highlights such as the 2024 VIP Tour that brought a 240-strong delegation to Manila, Bacolod, and Northern Mindanao—the latter being a first in the tour’s history.
VIP Tour 2025 Launch
One of the event’s highlights was the official launch of the 2025 VIP Tour with Tourism Director Francisco M. Lardizabal, Rajah Tours Chairperson Atty. Alejandra Clemente, and Philippine Airlines Area Manager Syed Imran Shahid presenting the itinerary and exclusive packages.
Atty. Alejandra “Dading” Clemente of Rajah Tours discussing the itinerary for the 2025 VIP Tour.
Lardizabal talked about the significant contribution of the U.S. as the second-largest source market for Philippine tourism in 2024, with over 950,000 arrivals generating a record-breaking 482 billion pesos in tourism revenue.
During the event, the itinerary for the 2025 VIP Tour, scheduled from July 6 to 15, 2025, was unveiled. This year’s tour will take participants to Manila, Laoag, Vigan, and Puerto Princesa, offering a rich cultural and scenic experience.
“We would really like you to join us, the dollars you will spend will help the country,” Clemente said. “The VIP Tour has brought 2.2 billion pesos in economic activity since we started 20 years ago, in 2005, making tourism an industry that can help propel growth for the Philippine economy.”
The organizers also introduced VIP Tour Next Gen: Beyond the Islands, catering to younger generations with a vibrant itinerary featuring Manila, Siargao, and Puerto Princesa. Attendees were treated to a nostalgic throwback video of the 2024 VIP Tour’s Northern Mindanao leg—highlighting Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, and Iligan—courtesy of the Department of Tourism Region 10, followed by a testimonial from 2024 participant Mr. Vitaliano “Nonoy” Rafael.
Adding a distinct cultural flavor to the event, Ilocano cuisine was served, including pancit with bagnet, Vigan longganisa skewers, and bicho-bicho by Kabisera, as well as golden bibingka courtesy of Barkada Tumulong.
Information on the 2025 VIP Tour can be accessed on the official VIP Tour website.
