MANILA — On his official trip to New York, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said Filipinos need to come together, particularly on important issues such as immigration in the United States.
He said that based on his meetings early in his tenure with US senators and members of Congress, Americans had shown the highest regard for Filipinos, adding “Filipinos are a potent group.”
“You don’t know how much power you have,” he said as he encouraged Filipino-Americans to voice out their concerns, positions, and ideas to their legislators, on behalf of their families and communities because this kind of representation is important for policy-makers in the US.
“Filipinos need to come together specially on important issues such as immigration,” he said.
Per the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Public Diplomacy, there are around 3.6 million Filipinos in the US.
Romualdez met with the New York-based members of the media at a press luncheon hosted by the Philippine Consulate General at the Philippine Center last Feb. 3.
Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega for her part thanked the ambassador for making time to meet with the community in New York.
The press luncheon was a side-event during the 4th Filipino-American Community General Assembly also taking place at the Philippine Center.
In his brief remarks, the DFA said Romualdez also recognized the contributions of his fellow journalists in nation building, and lauded the current social environment in the Philippines that upholds freedom of the press. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
