With humor and heart, Consul General Senen Mangalile says goodbye, praises the ‘energy of the community’

By Romulo Aromin, Jr., MD 

With only two weeks to prepare and against the backdrop of a heatwave, the world football games, and the long July 4th weekend with the U.S. celebrating 250 years of independence,  some 150 northeast Filams in the Tri-state gathered to send off Consul General Senen  Mangalile as he assumes the position of Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Cambodia. 

Held on July 5th at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck, with lead sponsors Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) and Hiraya Foundation,  this turnout was indeed a reflection of how Mangalile has served.  

As Ambassador Cecilia Rebong stated in her remarks, “Consul General Senen Mangalile performed excellently in all these areas.” She was referring to the three pillars of Philippine foreign service: national security, economic security and the protection of overseas Filipinos.

What defined him, she continued, was building warm relations to all as he draws people and communities together.  

PIDCI President Lea Frain, framed it in more personal ways. “This is not really a farewell.  Rather, it is our way of saying thank you – for your leadership,  your friendship, and for embracing our community as your own family.”

Nora Gallleros Tinio, PIDCI executive director,  recalled how Mangalile’s counsel was invaluable with this year‘s Philippine Independence Day celebration debuting  at Times Square, marked with events and festivities highlighting Philippine culture. 

Assemblymember Steven Raga underscored the consul general’s  active involvement when the Philippine Independence Day was celebrated in the halls of NY State Assembly in Albany, a significant representation and a historic first.

“He has put such a wonderful face to our Filipino community”, he said as he presented Mangalile with a New York State citation for exemplary public service.

Other plaques of appreciation were given by organizations to include Association of Filam Teachers of America (AFTA), Handang Tumulong Foundation, Inc (HTFi), Homecoming Sa Konsulado, Ladies For Rizal NY, Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI),  University of Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) New Jersey Chapter and University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA). 

Romulo Aromin, Jr., MD, chair of the Hiraya Foundation, emphasized the event as a community collaborative and in a larger perspective commented, “As Filipinos and Filipino Americans, we have contributed significantly to the advancement of the American narrative,”  as  the U.S. celebrates its  semiquincentennialfounding and 80 years of Philippine-American diplomatic relations. 

With Mangalile’s family in full attendance, the farewell was as celebratory as it was personal.  

Roasting the Consul General was confirmatory, revelatory and humorous as well. Elizabeth (Pao) and Alexandra (Betsy) provided a more humanized version of him. With Pao’s semblance to her father (pinagbiyak na bunga) and with her similar humor punches, the tone becomes both familial and familiar.

Given a well-deserved and overdue platform, his wife Fe  offered a gratitude that is heartfelt, reminiscing times spent with community members who have since become friends as well.  She again emphasized community collaboration making the events and projects successfully  completed. 

In his remarks, Mangalile’s characteristic humor and delivery again reverberated with jabs on dances, Ternos, personal  intrigues and secrets, among other observations.  He recalled  a tour de force of what made his tenure unforgettable and personal. Mangalile reminded the audience  how for want of not disinviting anyone for the Independence Day reception, that his initiative turned into a cross community-wide celebration of picnics and turon (sweet banana spring rolls), the Pistahan ng Bayan held  in Lincoln Park in Jersey City.  What he reinvigorated is the sense of community working together–bayanihan–all for the call of volunteerism. 

“The energy of this community…the Filipino American community in this part of the world  is the one thing that I will carry with me…It is the energy of this community that makes things possible, that makes things happen, that makes magical things occur”.   

Addressing the audience, “You have your own, you have what it takes…that it is really the community that is the ambassador of the Philippines in this part of the world.” He framed the consulate as stewards, “trying to point sometimes, to the right direction”. 

All throughout the event,  the consul general has been generous with his time initiating group photos with guests himself. He roamed around approaching guests at their tables, conversing  

and shaking hands. A number of times that he had to be cued to go back and continue with the program. This is how the career diplomat will be remembered: with humor and heart.