Press Release

The Consulate General, represented by Consul Melvin Almonguera and Protocol Officer Martyn Asker Orcine, attended Bikol USA of the Midwest’s (BUSAM) Post-Valentine’s Party and 14 th anniversary celebration on 05 April 2025 held at the Rizal Center in Chicago.

Consul Ma. Theresa M. Alders, Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) Chairperson, served as the resource speaker and discussed the highlights of the three-day training on the general instructions and procedures of the online voting and canvassing for the upcoming elections. Consul Alders noted to remind all registered overseas Filipino voters in the United States to complete their pre-voting enrollment as soon as possible to ensure smooth participation in the upcoming 2025 National Elections.

Some 60 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans mostly with roots in the Bicol Region, together with their families, attended the event. It also served as a fundraising activity for the benefit of families in the region who were affected by typhoon “Pepito” last November.

In his remarks, Consul Almonguera commended the organization’s programs and outreach activities. Aside from announcing the Consulate’s events, he likewise encouraged the attendees to invest in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines. END