The Hon. Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon is already part of Filipino and Filipino-American history. She is the first woman diplomat to be named to her position in the world’s largest (both in population and territory) Filipino diplomatic outpost. The consulate covers Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Philippine Independence-Day celebration 2007 saw also the making of another milestone in Filipino-American history. Ms. Aragon is the first Filipino consul general in Los Angeles to appear in Filipino-American commemorative events for the Philippine Independence Day accompanied by almost all of the staff members of the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) and the Philippine Tourism Office in Los Angeles.

The officers and members of the Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) were pleasantly surprised when Consul General Aragon arrived on time for its annual Philippine Independence-Day program. She was accompanied by her staff, including Consuls Ma. Hellen Barber, Noemi Diaz, Ed Yulo and Jim San Agustin, Philippine Tourism Director Annie Cuevas and Tourism Deputy Director Manny Ilagan. Ms. Aragon and Party attended the FACLA program today from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.