Generoso D.G. Calonge
Of Counsel (US Immigration)
Ambassador Generoso Calonge is a retired career diplomat of the Philippines whose service in the Department of Foreign Affairs spanned almost thirty eight years. He has served in Philippine diplomatic missions, five of them as Head of Post, in the United States, Russia and United Arab Emirates, as well as in several DFA offices in Manila.
After Ambassador Calonge’s retirement from the Diplomatic Service of the Philippines in June 30, 2022, he transitioned into law practice in the United States. His field of law is Immigration Practice. He focuses on relative petitions and asylum and refugee law. He has also appeared before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). As a form of public service, he provides pro bono advice on consular affairs to individuals who are in need of consular assistance in the District of Columbia area particularly with the Embassy of the Philippines.
Before joining the Philippine Foreign Service, he served as an officer in the Philippine Army for six years. Despite his move to the Diplomatic Service of his beloved country, in his heart, Ambassador Calonge has remained and will always remain a proud Airborne and Scout Ranger officer.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Virginia State Laws (US)
US Immigration Laws
District of Columbia Laws (US)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Juris Doctor
University of the Philippines, 1985
Master of Laws
Harvard Law School, 1988
Bachelor’s degree in Economics
University of the Philippines, 1976
Doctorate in Development Administration
Philippine Christian University in Manila, 2022
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ambassador to Israel
2012-2024
Consul General to Chicago
2014-2018
Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs in Manila
2018-2022
Ambassador to Iraq
Served as an officer in the Philippine Army for 6 years before joining the Philippine Foreign Service
Commodore in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary
Reserve officer in the Philippine Army as a Lieutenant Colonel
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Virginia State Bar (US)
District of Columbia Bar (US)
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Fairfax County Bar Association (FCBA)
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Platoon Leader of “B” Company in Labason, Zamboanga del Norte, under the 30th Infantry Battalion, then headquartered in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, in the early 1980s.
- Promoted to Executive Officer of “C” Company when all Scout Ranger officers of the 4th Infantry Division were consolidated in the 26th Infantry Battalion in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte. It was in this capacity that he was awarded the Military Merit Medal with Bronze Spearhead in action against rebel groups in that province.
- In his six years of service in uniform, from 1978-1984, he had numerous awards, commendations, and citations, including the Military Commendation Medal, the Combat Kagitingan Badge, and various campaign medals.
- After serving as Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier General Benjamin R. Vallejo, Commanding General of the Metropolitan Citizen Military Training Command, AFP, Lt. Calonge sought and won recognition by the National Historical Commission of the HQ MCMTC Building as a historical landmark, because it served as the Headquarters of the Philippine Division, United States Army, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.
- Topped the Career Minister Examinations in 1998.
- He graduated from the Australian Army’s Officer Cadet School at Portsea in 1979 and placed number one in the Philippine Army’s Scout Ranger Class No.33. He belonged to the Army Special Warfare Brigade’s Basic Airborne Course Class No. 42.
