Minister and Consular General of the Philippines, Mr. Ariel Rodelas Peñaranda, arrived in Grand Cayman this afternoon (Thursday, 23 January 2014) until Tuesday, 28 January 2014 morning.

The Consular General, who is headquartered in Washington, DC, USA, has consular jurisdiction over the Cayman Islands. During this visit, he is accompanied by five team members, who arrive on Friday afternoon.

Soon after arrival, Mr. Peñaranda called on Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson, Cert. Hon., JP, at the Government Administration Building.

He also met with Assistant Chief Immigration Officers Ms Jeannie Lewis (Regulatory and Compliance), Ms Angela McLean (Intelligence Unit) and Ms Tamara Reid-Vernon (Border Control/Visas) in Immigration Headquarters.

This was followed by visits with the Director of Labour and Pensions, Mr. Mario Ebanks, Deputy Director, Mr. Marlon Bodden and National Workforce Development Agency Manager, Mrs. Lois Kellyman.

Mr. Peñaranda will participate as a guest at the National Heroes Day celebrations on Monday, 27 January 2014.

The Consular-General and his team, who are staying at the Holiday Inn, will meet with Filipino nationals living and working in the Cayman Islands at that venue.

They fly out early Tuesday morning.

CV of ARIEL RODELAS PEÑARANDA

Minister and Consular General Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines Washington, D.C.

(as of January 22, 2013)

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario appointed Mr. Ariel Rodelas Penaranda as Consul General in Washington, D.C. on November 16, 2012, with consular jurisdiction over the States of Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia as well as Caribbean countries. As Consul General, he leads the Embassy of the Philippines in the implementation of laws, regulations, and policies on Philippine consular services under its jurisdiction. He has led consular outreach missions to provide consular services to overseas Filipinos. He has engaged with government officials and members of the Filipino community through meetings and events and signed several agreements that promote the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.

Mr. Penaranda serves in concurrent capacity as Minister for Legislative Affairs, a position that he has held since July 2008. In such capacity, he assists the Ambassador in promoting relations, building network with the United States Congress, and advancing Philippine interests with Members of Congress. He contributed to the Embassy’s successful campaign for the passage of the Filipino veterans equity provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by President Barack Obama on 17 February 2009. Total funds for Filipino veterans amounted to $265 million. During his stint as Legislative Minister, funds approved by the US Congress for the Philippines increased from US$120 million in 2009 to US$160 million in 2013.  Mr. Penaranda also managed the complex and intricate campaign for the passage of the Save Our Industries Act, a U.S. congressional bill that aims to promote jobs in the Philippine  garments  industry.  He  has  organized  major  legislative  events  and  meetings  for  President Benigno S. Aquino III, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Secretary Albert del Rosario, Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, and other Philippine officials. He works closely with the Philippines-United States Congressional Friendship Caucus.

Consul General Penaranda also serves as Chair of the Bids and Awards Committee of the Philippine Embassy (BAC) which advises the Ambassador on the procurement of goods and services by the Embassy in accordance with Philippines laws on procurement.

Prior to his assignment in Washington D.C., Mr. Peñaranda served as Director in the Office of American Affairs, from 2005 to 2008, and supervised Philippine bilateral relations with the United States, Mexico and Central America, and Canada. In the Foreign Service, he was First Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey from 2002 to 2005, and took charge of trade and economic affairs. He was Second Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan from 1999 to 2002 and was in charge of political affairs and assistance-to-nationals. In both assignments, he acted as Deputy Head of Mission and in the absence of the Ambassador acted as Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i.

Upon joining the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1995, he was Documentation and Liaison Officer for the Philippine hosting of the Summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in 1996. He was Acting Director for Ceremonials from 1996 to 1997, and Principal Assistant for International Economic Relations and Acting Head of the Economic Diplomacy Unit from 1998 to 1999.

Mr. Peñaranda holds a Master’s Degree in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University, Australia, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He is pursuing a PhD in Development Studies (Political Science) at the De La Salle University in Manila. He is a member of the Philippine Political Science Association and founding president of the University of the Philippines–Moriones, an association of students from Marinduque where Mr. Penaranda was born.

He was a member of musical groups — a community-based chorale in Manila and a university-based gamelan band. Among his interests are music and singing, travelling, and fitness. He has knowledge of Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and French.

Mr. Peñaranda is married to Rowena Dayanghirang-Penaranda, who works at the International Monetary Fund, and they are blessed with three children, Mithi, 12, Diwata, 8, and Lakan, 2.