Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Outside of the Philippines, the largest Filipino community, numbering around 1.3 million, is concentrated in the Southwestern United States. Serving the consular needs of this huge population is the Los Angeles Consulate General of the Philippines. Established in the 1950’s, the LA Consulate has always been headed by male consul generals until February 14, 2007 when the Honorable Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon became the first woman ever to assume the highest post in Los Angeles, California.  

“It’s a difficult 7-days-a-week-job, leaving me with hardly any more time for anything else,” admits Con-Gen Aragon who is in charge of promoting and protecting the national interests of the Philippines and its citizens in Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Southern California alone covers the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, and San Luis Obispo. Over all these areas, the Consulate serves to provide assistance to nationals, economic diplomacy, issuance of passports and visas, civil registration, notaries and other legal services. It also works to promote Philippine culture and to foster closer relations with the ever-growing Filipino-American community.

“The most challenging part of my job is how to best deliver services to more than 1 million constituents,” said the hardworking Con-Gen.  “We get more than 100-200 visitors everyday so our staff of 36 is always multi-tasking,” she added.

Imagine being in charge of a household that attends to hundreds of phone calls and emails everyday, and entertains at least 100 guests daily.  On top of that, you have to attend important functions and events in five big states, usually after office hours and weekends. That’s what Con-Gen Aragon’s life has been like in LA for the past two years.

“The only time I have for myself is when I go to church and do some grocery on weekends. I wish I have time for leisurely shopping in the mall, but my job rarely affords that,” she said.

When her busy schedule permits, Mrs. Aragon relaxes and recharges her energy in their home in Las Vegas where her husband of almost two decades, Dr. Romualdo A. Aragon, an internist, holds his practice and where their only child, 14-year old Kimberly, is in 9th grade at the Las Vegas Academy.

Born and raised in Manila, Ms. Aragon went to St. Rita’s College in Manila from kindergarten to third year high school. Then, her father, Benito C. Bernardo, took his wife Visitacion, son Benito Jr., daughter Marilyn, and youngest child, Mary Jo, to immigrate to Vienna, Austria in 1969 where he worked at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mary Jo graduated from high school at the American International School in Vienna, Austria in 1971 and then earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Schiller College in Bönnigheim, Germany and London, UK. She also obtained a Diploma in International Relations from the University of London, UK.