PRESS RELEASE NO. 43 - 2025
PCG outreach team at work.
02 May 2025, Honolulu – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu brought its consular and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) services closer to the Filipino Community in American Samoa through its annual consular outreach mission in Pago Pago on 24-29 April 2025.
A total of 194 members of the Filipino community availed themselves of passport, legalization/notarization of documents, and civil registration services. In addition, kababayans also availed of ATN services and received information and guidance on consular services and the ongoing online voting for the National and Local Elections.
The four-member outreach team was led by Consul Pamela Durian-Bailon and included Consular and ATN Assistant Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr., Finance Officer Abigail Ramos, and Consular Assistant Mia Gaspar.
While in Pago Pago, Consul Bailon also met with Governor Pula Nikolao Pula, Attorney General Gwen Tauliili-Langkilde, Chief Immigration Officer Sam Tuipine Fuimaono, and other officials of the American Samoan Government and discussed matters of mutual concern and areas that PH and American Samoa can cooperate on.
The team likewise provided moral support to the Filipino community’s candidate to the Miss SOFIAS Pageant, Zee Romero, who won 3rd runner up. The pageant is a prominent annual event in American Samoa that celebrates the fa'afafine community—individuals who embody both masculine and feminine traits within Samoan culture. Organized by the Society of Fa'afafine in American Samoa (SOFIAS), the pageant serves as a platform for cultural expression, advocacy, and community engagement.
Miss SOFIAS third runner up Zee Romero was flanked by FCAS President Nemia Aguirre (in yellow) and other FCAS officers and members.
The Consulate thanks its partner for the outreach - the Filipino Community of American Samoa (FCAS) – for its full support under the leadership of its President, Ms. Nemia Aguirre, in the conduct of the outreach in Pago Pago. (END)
PCG outreach team led by Consul Pamela Durian-Bailon (front row, center) pose with Ms. Nemia Aguirre (back row, center), President of the Filipino Community of American Samoa (FCAS) and FCAS officers during the consular mission.
Consul Bailon listens to a Filcom member during a town hall meeting on 26 April attended by 82 Filipinos, where they asked questions on online voting, labor documents, and consular services.
[Top photo]: With American Samoa’s Governor Pula Nikolao Pula; [Bottom photo]: With Chief Immigration Officer Sam Tuipine Fuimaono; [Right photo]: With Attorney General Gwen Tauliili-Langkilde.
[Left photo]: PCG team with Bishop Kolio Tumanuvao Etuale (leftmost), Roman Catholic Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago in American Samoa. Bishop Etuale is the first local priest to be chosen as bishop for the Catholic Church in American Samoa; [Right photo]: Consul Bailon and ATN Officer Mr. Hermogenes Cayabyab pose with Filipino Chaplain Fr. Jeudiel Galvo after mass, where Consul Bailon announced the consular outreach and overseas voting.
