6 October 2005 – Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, USA, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the “Consulate on Wings” – the Consulate General’s consular outreach services – will be conducted in Anchorage, Alaska, from 6 – 8 October 2005 to serve the growing Filipino-American population in Anchorage and other cities as well as collaborate with the various Fil-Am organizations on projects that benefit the community.

“The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is excited to meet and consult with the Fil-Am community in the area, extend its various consular services such as passport and visa issuance, legalization of documents, dual citizenship applications, and provide useful information on tourism, trade and investment,”  Consul General Sanchez said.

Consular services will be held at the Atwood Building at 550 W 7th Avenue, Anchorage, on 6-7 October 2005, and at the Arc of Anchorage Multi-Purpose Room at 5437 Northern Lights Boulevard #2 on 8 October 2005.

These services include the processing of Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) voter applications and recording of the voters’ personal information using modern biometrics technology.

“For the first time, Filipinos in Alaska will be given an opportunity to register as overseas absentee voters and eventually vote in Philippine national elections,” Consul General Sanchez noted.

The Consulate team will be composed of Consul General Sanchez, Vice-Consul Anthony Mandap, Tourism Director Rene de los Santos, Trade Commissioner Ma. Roseni Alvero, Philippine Center (San Francisco) Business Manager Ricardo Sison, Finance Officer Ma. Sylvia Alfonso and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Edmundo Mangubat.

The Consul General said that, aside from performing consular services, the Consulate team will meet state and local officials such as Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich to discuss the concerns of the Fil-Am community.  They will also discuss opportunities for future cooperation, such as in trade, investment and tourism, and the promotion of Philippine culture and history.

Consul General Sanchez also stated that meetings have likewise been arranged with representatives of Alaska’s national officials – such as Senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Donald Young – as part of the Consulate’s efforts to increase the numbers of members of the RP-US Friendship Caucus in the US Congress.

In addition, the Consulate team is also scheduled to meet with Board Members of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce and the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce, as well as officials of the Anchorage Museum of History and Arts.

Consul General Sanchez added that the team is scheduled to visit the British Petroleum/Alyeska Pipeline Service company (which employs close to a hundred Filipino workers), other establishments where a significant number of Filipinos are employed, and to meet Filipino seafarers who are in Anchorage during that period.

The team will also take part in the Filipino-American History Month celebrations organized by the Filipino-American National Historical Society.  The celebrations will feature cultural shows and a cooking demonstration showcasing Filipino dishes.

Consul General Sanchez also said that a symposium on trade, investment and tourism will be held at the Saint Anthony’s Church at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, 7 October 2005, and at the Arc of Anchorage Multi-Purpose Room at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, 8 October 2005.  Resource persons from the Consulate, the Philippine Departments of Tourism and Trade and Industry, and the Philippine Center will make presentations on topics ranging from the present Philippine tourism program, trade and investment opportunities, dual citizenship, and OAV.  END