PCGNY.net | Consulate General of the Philippines in New York

Consul General Rebong is a career diplomat. She holds the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II. Before her assignment in New York as Consul General in January 2004, she was on detail at the Office of the President of the Philippines holding two important positions – Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs.

At the Department of Foreign Affairs, Consul General Rebong served as Chief Coordinator at the Office of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; Executive Director at the Office of Protocol; Director of Human Rights, Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Issues at the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations; and Director for Southeast Asia at the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Consul General Rebong served twice at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York representing the Philippines at various international meetings and conferences in New York and other cities of the world. She handled political issues, as well as economic and social issues, e.g., sustainable development, international assistance to developing countries, women and children’s rights, human rights, among others.

She was assigned at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. as Cultural and Information Officer. From 1997 to 1999, she served as Deputy Consul General in New York.

On 22 July 2003, Consul General Rebong was conferred by the President of the Philippines the Gawad Mabini, Rank of Dakilang Kamanong, for distinguished accomplishments and exemplary service in the Department of Foreign Affairs, for promoting and advancing the interests of the Philippines and the Filipino people during her service at the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., and for outstanding performance and dedication to duties as Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs.

In September 2007, Consul General Rebong was conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Office (Ranggong Maringal na Pinuno) for her accomplishments as Chief of Presidential Protocol from 2002 to 2004.

Consul General Rebong was born on 22 November 1951 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Philippines. She is married to Oscar Rebong. The couple have two children.

Other Officers of the Philippine Consulate General and its Attached Agencies are:

Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek
Deputy Consul General
Deputy Consul General Melita Sta. Maria Thomeczek is a career diplomat who presently holds the rank of Career Minister. She entered the Foreign Service in August 1991 after passing the Foreign Service examinations in 1990.

From 1991 – 1995, she served as the head of the Personnel Management Division of the Department with concurrent position as Assistant to the Board of Foreign Service Examinations. From 1995 – 2001, she served as Consul and First Secretary at the Philippine Embassy in Bonn, Germany. When the Embassy moved to Berlin in 2000, she became the Officer-In-Charge of the Embassy Extension Office in Bonn until her recall to Manila in 2001. Back in Manila, she was a Director in the Office of European Affairs and later Executive Director in the Office of American Affairs until her posting to New York in 2004. Mrs. Sta.Maria-Thomeczek speaks fluent German.

Zaldy B. Patron
Consul
Head of Economic, Political and Visa Sections
Consul Zaldy Patron holds the rank of Foreign Service Officer Class I. Prior to his assignment at the Philippine Consulate General New York in September 2008, he served as Director of the Office of ASEAN Affairs in Manila. He was also assigned as Second Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil from 2002 to 2005 and as Third Secretary and Vice Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia from 1999 to 2002. Consul Patron was also conferred the Gawad Mabini (Rank of Dakilang Kasugo) Presidential Award in August 2007 for his exemplary performance in the Philippine hosting of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings in Manila.

Mr. Leandro B. Lachica
Consul
Head of Dual Citizenship, Legal and Assistance-to-Nationals Sections
Consul Leandro Lachica holds the rank of Foreign Service Officer, Class II. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 2000, Consul Lachica practiced law at Manalo, Puno, Jocson and Placido Law Offices in Makati and Alabang. He transferred to the Philippine Consulate General New York in 2006 after serving two years at the Philippine Embassy in Canberra. He is admitted as a lawyer in the Philippines, New York, and at New South Wales. He finished his Master of Business Administration in Singapore.

Ms. Maria Elena Cristina D. Maningat
Vice Consul
Head of Passport and Information Sections
Vice Consul Elena Maningat holds the rank of Foreign Service Officer, Class III. Graduating with a BS Architecture degree from UP Diliman in 1997, she received her license in 1999 and practiced as an architect until she joined the DFA in 2003 as FSO, Class IV. She served concurrently as Principal Assistant and Acting Director for two divisions at the Office of Personnel and Administrative Services and as a member of the Technical Working Group of the Properties Committee under the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration from 2003 to 2006. She joined the Philippine Consulate General New York in July 2006.

Ms. Josephine C. Romero
Trade Representative

Ms. Emma Ruth Yulo-Kitiyakara
Tourism Representative

Ms. Gracia Severa B. Espiritu
Office-in-Charge
Commission on Audit (COA)

Mr. Gavino Abaya
Manager
Philippine Center Management

Click here for the Complete List of Officers

OFFICERS AND STAFF OF THE
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK

(Front row, left to right): Consul Edgar Badajos (Political/Economic/Information); Vice Consul Maria Elena Cristina Maningat (Visa); Deputy Consul General Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek; Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong; Consul Millicent Cruz-Paredes (Passport/Dual Citizenship); Mrs. Milagros Agustines - Finance Officer; and Vice Consul Leandro Lachica (Legal/Assistance-to-Nationals).

(Second row, left to right): Mr. William Tan - Consular Assistant (Passport); Mrs. Emelita Blaza - Consular Assistant (Dual Citizenship); Mrs. Marianne Olfindo - Consular Assistant (Passport); Mrs. Marilou Barrion - Collecting Officer; Mrs. Lolinda Villamater - Assistant; and Mr. Rey Cardenas - Administrative Officer.

Third row, left to right): Mr. Jose J.P. Morales - Consular Assistant (ATN & OAV); Mr. Ric Miranda - Consular Assistant; Ms. Cristina Escobar - Consular Assistant; Mr. Robert Nitro - Consular Assistant (Passport); Ms. Maria Theresa Tamayo - Consular Assistant (Visa); Mr. Henry Zeta - Consular Assistant (Protocol & Passport); Mrs. Merle Puruganan - Cultural Officer; and Mr. Felix Ybardolaza - Consular Assistant (Legal).