Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin (front row, 4th from right) with Representative Takashi Ohno (4th from left) together with participants of the 2016 Hawaii Consulates Tour, pose at the Consulate façade.
The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu welcomed around thirty-five (35) participants of the 2016 Consulates Tour of Hawaii, an annual activity organized by Hawaii Representative Takashi Ohno on 7 June 2016 to give his constituents the opportunity to get to visit and to know more about foreign consular posts and offices in their neighborhood .
Representative Ohno represents District 27 covering Liliha, Alewa Heights, Puunui, and Nuuanu, of which the Consulate General is part of.
The tour participants were able to visit the Consulates General of the Philippines, Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as the Taiwan Cultural and Economic Office, which are all located along Pali Highway, dubbed as Honolulu’s “Consulate Row”.
Rep. Ohno and his constituents were given a tour of the Philippine Consulate General premises, highlighting the history of the Consulate building as a historical site in Honolulu and as a legacy of the first Filipino sakadas in Hawaii who first purchased the half-hectare property in Pali Highway which was later purchased by the Philippine Government to serve as Philippine chancery. The tour also described the history of the creation of the Philippine Consulate General, the first Philippine consular mission in the United States. The Consulate also prepared a brief presentation on the mission and mandate of the office as well as the services, activities and programs undertaken by the Consulate General as it carries out the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy – (1) preservation of national security; (2) promotion and attainment of economic security; and (3) protection of the rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos.
The participants were also treated to merienda of ensaymada. a popular Filipino snack. As a souvenir, the lady participants also received Philippine-made freshwater pearl bracelets from the Consul General.
Rep. Ohno expressed appreciation to the Philippine Consulate for graciously welcoming his delegation and hoped that this activity will continue every year. (END).
