Press Release

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL CONDUCTS BASIC SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING FOR PERSONNEL

Consul General J. Susana V. Paez (right) presenting a token of appreciation
to Mr. Matt Travers of StandStrong (Photo by Mr. Noly Dulay)

Chicago, 01 August 2022 – Pursuant to its Gender and Development (GAD) mandate, the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago conducted an in-person basic self-defense training for its personnel on 29 July 2022 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Consulate.

The resource person during the training was Mr. Matt Travers of StandStrong (standstrong.org), a non-profit organization that promotes empowerment to communities and individuals through self-defense training courses. Mr. Travers demonstrated to the participants some practical techniques for them to be able to protect themselves, to disengage and evade a physical assault. He also underscored the need to have the right mindset of constant mindfulness, vigilance, and awareness of one’s surroundings.

Consul General J. Susana V. Paez, in her remarks, thanked StandStrong for conducting the hands-on training for the Consulate. She remarked that it was a “timely and useful exercise,” not only in view of reported anti-Asian hate crimes across the country but also the necessity to be prepared for any eventuality. As a GAD activity, it would empower the Consulate’s personnel, both male and female, to be able to handle any untoward incident which may occur anytime and anywhere, she added. She further strongly encouraged Post’s personnel to echo-train members of their family regarding what they learned during the session. END

Mr. Matt Travers demonstrating a technique to fend off an assault (Photo by Mr. Noly Dulay)

Consulate personnel, headed by Consul General Paez (seated 3rd from the left), posing with Mr. Travers
(seated 3rd from the right) after the session (Photo by Mr. Noly Dulay)