"It was not planned. It might have been God’s will. What is supposed to be a casual courtesy call marks a beginning of an advocacy in foreign relations by the three ladies and the Consul General . . ."
It was on Thursday, February 28, 2019, when three Fil-Am women arrived at the Philippine Consulate General’s Office at 3435 Wilshire Blvd # 550, Los Angeles, to pay a courtesy call to Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz. The first one to arrive was Corazon Ugalde Yellen Armenta, the current Mrs. Asia USA, California and Chief Executive Officer of CorazonProduction Company followed by Hilda Tiu Mauro, founder of Gasa Charities, Incorporated with Virgelia Villegas of Virgelia Productions, the producer of Miss Asia USA Beauty Pageant soon arrived.
Despite his hectic schedule, Consul General Cruz extended his stay to hear what is in store with these three women’s advocacies. What is supposed to be a mere courtesy call has turned into a beginning of an advocacy campaign to unite Filipinos and other Asian Americans in the United States to promote arts and culture and its evolution to the rest of the world.
While Asian Americans comprise only more than five percent of the entire US population, they have the highest educational qualification among America’s major racial categories including Filipinos population. Asian Americans also made significant contributions to the American economy. In 2012, it was reported that Asian Americans own 1.5 million businesses, employ around 3 million people who earn an annual payroll of around $80 billion. [Adam, Shar (May 3, 2012). “Growing Asian-American Communities Underrepresented”].
“Philippines has been the host of the last ASEAN meeting in the Far East and if this could be a way to spread and further bond our relations among Asian countries beyond its shore and in the Far East, it would be an honor for the Filipino Americans to lead this advocacy," Corazon said.
“America is still the center of gravity in the arts and entertainment industry with Los Angeles, California at the center stage. This is where Hollywood, Universal Studio, Disneyland, among others, can be found and the Oscars Award, Grammy, Los Angeles Fashion Week is being held. If we can train and develop Filipino, Asian and other nationalities’ talents to excel in the field of education, arts, film and other fields of expertise and for them to compete in America - Filipinos and the Philippines including Asians and their respective countries can also be known the world over. In effect, they can promote their respective countries as well”, Corazon further added.
Recently, Armenta established Corazon Productions with Hilda Tiu Mauro, founder of Gaza Charities Inc. (which mission is to establish a library in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, Philippines, to support the educational needs of the school children in the Philippines), as the latter’s fiscal sponsor. Corazon intends to produce a series of events to propel her advocacy to develop Filipino, Asian Americans’ talents and at the same time raise funds to support Gasa Charities Inc. ’s mission.
On the other hand, Virgelia Villegas, CEO of Virgelia Productions, Inc., is producing beauty pageants promoting multi-cultural talents for the past 31 years.
After hearing the three ladies, the Consul General said: “I guess we should meet again to discuss further details on what we can do to propagate this advocacy”.
This is the kind of a diplomat who goes beyond promoting his country but also its neighbors as well, as its regional partner. A career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs for over two decades, Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz was conferred the Gawad Mabini Award, with the rank of Dakilang Kamagong (Grand Cross) by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 13, 2017 for his efforts in facilitating the mass repatriation of over 5,800 Overseas Filipino Workers from 2014-2016 in Libya, prior to his arrival in Los Angeles in 2016.
Thus, what is supposed to be a casual courtesy call marks a beginning of advocacy in foreign relations by the three ladies with the Consul General.
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