New York City - Day 3 (Tuesday)

Day 3 - Tuesday

Lovely weather; not so chilly. Ms. Daphne and I went to the Philippine Consulate at the 5th ave. to meet with the other delegates and with the PR (Permanent Representative to the UN Hilario Davide). Appointment with the PR is at 9:00am and we arrived a little early so we went to Starbucks (inside Barnes and Nobles bookstore) across the street.

The Philippine Consulate along 5th Ave


Barnes and Nobles; Starbucks at the 2nd floor. This is the view from the Philippine Consulate

I ordered my favorite Starbucks bagel and cream cheese + Cafe Americano tall. AT 9am we went to the consulate and met with Davide, and his Deputy PR Ambassador Leslie Gatan. The delegates introduced themselves one by one to the Philippine ambassadors.


Ambassador Davide and the Philippine Delegation




The Philippine LGU-NGO delegation: 1) Hon. Edgardo Quisimbing, Board Member, San Carlos City, Negros occidental; 2) Ms. Caridad Sison, Chief Finance and Management Division, NIA Region XI Davao City; 3) Hon. Rodolfo Martinez, Board Member, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental; 4) Hon. Ernesto Tojing, Board Member, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental; 5) Ms. Judith Navarra, Population Program Officer II, Kidapawan City, Cotabato; 6) Engr. Melinda Baure, Provincial Coordinator, Tandang City, Surigao del Sur; 7) Teresita Francisco, Budget Officer, Valenzuela City; 8) Sharon Quezon, Secretary to the Mayor, Siquijor, Siquijor; 9) Eleanor Sardual, SB Member, Ipil, Zamboanga, Sibugay; 10) Elvira Nedia Mauban, Coordinator, LGU MAuban, Quezon; 11) Maria Estela Felipa Aceron, Vice Governor, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; 12) Ms. Shirley Belen Aala, former Congresswoman, Tagum, Davao City; 13) Ma. Cecilia Mayo, Valenzuela Councilor and President of Women in NAtion-Building (WIN); 14) Rio Brigino, External Relations Officer of Vibal FOundation and the official documentation officer of the delegation.




The Road to Open Knowledge flyer at the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York

The delegation went to the UN to attend the conferences. We bumped into Ambassador Davide again and asked him for another photo op.

with His Honor Davide (RIO and hilaRIO)

While waiting for the other delegates who were registering, I took pictures of the United Nations. I was so delighted of the sights! People of different race, nation and culture all interacting with each other; people in their native costumes; and so many Filipinos working in the UN! Security personnel, staff, and clerks. I didn't feel I was thousands of miles away from the Philippines.

Disarmament!



We attended the Local Authorities Major groups meeting where we had a chance to introduce ourselves to the the major group coordinator.

We also attended the plenary on Decisions on Water and Sanitation.

Ms. Daphne and I arranged the venue for the side event on Friday. We paid the fees at the UN cashier and I wasn't surprised this time-- the cashier is a Filipino. (The registration officer is also Filipino).

After this, we went home since Ms. Daphne is having a slight fever. I, on the other hand, explored! I walked from our place to the Apple Store at 59th and 5th. I almost bought an Ipod nano. WIll buy it when my mom arrives on Friday. She will buy a notebook too.

I bought an all american hotdog and ate it while seating on a bench at the south central park. I watched other tourists, birds, the carriages (the Sex and the City romantic scene of Carrie and her european artist boyfriend was filmed here), The Plaza (the world's best hotel!), etc...











I walked home again. Didn't feel tired. I love New York!