Capiz Shell Christmas Lanterns Adorn Philippine Consulate (Philippine Center) Window

The Christmas window display at the Philippine Consulate (Philippine Center) on Fifth Avenue feature Philippine Christmas lanterns made of beautiful capiz shells from San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. The other window showcases holiday pieces made from natural materials including coconut, abaca, raffia, and shells. Capiz shell is a flat, semi-transparent shell with a pearlescent appearance. Capiz is often used to create lampshades or other luminescent objects, such as candle holders, because of its striking appearance when light shines through. However, it is just as common to see the bases of lamps crafted with capiz shell. Capiz is also frequently used as an accent to many household and fashion accessories. The Philippine Consulate is located at 556 Fifth Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets.

Overseas Absentee Voter Registration and Town Hall Meeting at the Philippine Center (New York)

The Philippine Consulate

Overseas absentee voter registration (and "party") at Kalayaan Hall

NBC Studio, Rockefeller Center

Having reacquired my Filipino citizenship last year, I thought I should exercise my right to vote during the Philippine national election in May 2010. I took the opportunity to register after work hours at the Philippine Center earlier this evening. The overseas absentee voter registration-town hall meeting was held from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the center's Kalayaan Hall, although it looked more like a typical Filipino party because food was served. The flag outside the Philippine Consulate is flown at half staff in honor of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino who helped restore democracy in 1986, following a peaceful people power revolution. Tita Cory as she is fondly called, passed away today after a long battle with colon cancer. What better way to honor her memory than participating in the democracy that she fought hard to regain.

The Philippine Consulate is located in midtown Manhattan at 556 Fifth Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets.

Where to register (from the Philippine Consulate website):

• At the Philippine Consulate General, 556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY

10036, Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM (except holidays)

• During the Sunday Consular Service

30 August 2009 at the Philippine Consulate General New York

10am to 3pm – open for all services

• At the Consular Outreach Services, 10am-3pm:

18 Jul 2009, Saturday - NaFFAA Region I and PAMANA –West Roxbury, MA; Finn

Hall, Holy Name Church, 1689 Centre St, West Roxbury, MA

25 Jul 2009, Saturday - Philippine American Association of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, PA;

Schenley Park, Vietnam Veterans Pavilion, Oakland/ Squirrel Hill 15213

8 Aug 2009, Saturday – Fil-Am Friendship Society of New Hampshire – Manchester,

NH; Comfort Inn, 298 Queen City Ave., Manchester, NH 03102

15 Aug 2009, Saturday - Philippine Association of Connecticut Inc. (PACI) –

Newington, CT; VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 9836, 85 Kitts Lane Newington,

CT 06111

From the Asian American Federation of New York Census Information Center:

In 2000, the New York metropolitan area had the fourth-largest Filipino American population in a U.S. metropolitan region.3 Approximately 65 percent of Filipino Americans in New York State lived in New York City. Filipinos also were the fourth-largest Asian American ethnic group in New York City, constituting 7 percent of the city’s Asian population.4 From 1990 to 2000, the Filipino population in New York City increased by 44 percent, from 43,229 to 62,058. That growth was far greater than the city’s overall 9 percent population rise but lower than the 71 percent expansion of the city’s total Asian population. In raw numbers, the addition of 18,829 Filipino New Yorkers represented the sixth-largest population increase among Asian groups in the city in the last decade.5 Within New York City, in 2000, the majority (54 percent, or 33,225) of Filipinos lived in Queens, followed by Manhattan (16 percent, or 10,223); Brooklyn (13 percent, or 7,918); the Bronx (9 percent, or 5,446); and Staten Island (8 percent, or 5,246).

LOLITA VALDERRAMA-SAVAGE: An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings

Above are two of the oil paintings by artist LOLITA VALDERRAMA SAVAGE now on exhibit at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue (between 45th and 46th Streets) in Manhattan. The Foundation For Filipino Artists, Inc., in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate of New York sponsored the opening of the exhibition. The show will run until Nov. 14. Lolita Valderrama-Savage, is a native of the Philippines who now divides her time between New York and Florence. I took this photo of the Philippine Consulate last winter.