Young Fil-Ams Re-Discover their Culture During Their Visit to the Philippine Center

YOUNG FIL-AMS RE-DISCOVER THEIR CULTURE DURING THEIR VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINE CENTER

Consulate officials headed by Consul General Neil Ferrer with the participants and facilitators of the FEC Galing Bata ISLA (Immersive Summer Learning Adventure) Summer Camp during their field trip at the Consulate on 20 June 2025 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco welcomed 39 young Filipino Americans, aged 5 to 14 years, who are participating in the Filipino Education Center (FEC) Galing Bata ISLA (Immersive Summer Learning Adventure) Summer Camp on 20 June 2025 at the Philippine Center.

Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer led the Consulate in welcoming the summer campers to the Philippine Center. In his opening message, Consul General Ferrer emphasized that the program seeks not only to provide a fun and engaging way to learn about Philippine culture and heritage, but also to celebrate the dreams, identity, and cultural pride of the next generation of Filipino Americans.

He also commended the FEC Galing Bata for providing a powerful platform for young Filipino-American where both their hearts and minds can be nurtured.

The Consulate, along with the Philippine Department of Tourism Office (PDOT), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley (PTIC-SV), prepared interactive and engaging activities related to the Summer camp’s theme, “Isla ng Kagandahan – Discovering the Beauty of the Philippine Islands”.

All groups get to visit the following thematic stations to complete the series of activities. The summer campers were given a “Philippine passport”, which were stamped before proceeding to the next activity stations.

Station 1- Sentro Rizal: Participants took part in engaging trivia games that tested their knowledge of basic Philippine facts, with the chance to win fun prizes. In addition to the games, the facilitator introduced the traditional Filipino dance La Jota Moncadeña. After providing a brief background on the dance’s origins and cultural significance, a short demonstration using castanets was conducted. To further illustrate the dance, a video provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was shown as a reference.

Station 2 – Tourism: The PDOT organized a creative coloring activity for the summer campers, centered around the “LOVE the Philippines” tourism campaign. The facilitator explained the meaning and iconography behind the logo, highlighting how each symbol represents the country’s rich and diverse identity—from natural landscapes and cultural heritage to Filipino cuisine. The activity encouraged campers to engage artistically while learning more about what makes the Philippines unique.

Station 3 – Games: The PTIC-SV led participants in playing traditional Filipino children’s games such as Tumbang Preso and Sungka, and Limbo Rock. These classic games offered the summer campers a fun and interactive way to experience Filipino culture, fostering camaraderie and a sense of tradition through games.

Station 4 – Food and products: At the “Aling Conching Sari-sari Store,” the PTIC-SV hosted a palabunutan activity where participants drew lots to win guaranteed prizes—Philippine-made food snacks that showcased local flavors. To complete the nostalgic experience, ube and mango-flavored iced candies were also distributed, offering participants a refreshing taste of beloved Filipino treats.

Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes led a brief post-activity assessment, inviting feedback and reflections from the summer campers. She expressed her gratitude to the FEC Galing Bata, through its Program Director, Ms. Sarinas, for their collaboration, and thanked the campers for their enthusiastic participation. To conclude the activity, the Consulate conducted a “pabitin” game which was enjoyed by all participants.

The Consulate’s participation and support to the Summer Camp is in line with its cultural promotion and diplomacy program.

Consul General Neil Ferrer welcomes participants of the FEC Galing Bata ISLA Summer Camp program during their field trip to the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 20 June 2025. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Station 1 – The Philippine Consulate provided a demonstration of the basic steps of the La Jota Moncadeña traditional dance to the summer campers (San Francisco PCG photo)

Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros hosts the trivia game on Philippine culture and landscapes (San Francisco PCG photo)

Station 2- Summer campers playing sungka (top) and tumbang preso (photos below) (San Francisco PCG photos)

Station 3 – Ms. Stephanie Hermoso of the Philippine Department of Tourism-San Francisco facilitated the coloring activity of the LOVE the Philippines logo (San Francisco PCG photos)

Station 4 – On a visit to the last stop – Aling Conching’s Sari-Sari Store, summer campers get to do the “palabunutan” with guaranteed Philippine food snack freebies and get to choose ube or mango flavored iced candies (San Francisco PCG photo)