PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND DOST EXPLORE NEW AVENUES FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION, AND CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
Consul General Neil Ferrer (third from right – seated) and Consul Rowena R. Pangilinan-Daquipil (fourth from right – standing) join DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho Mabborang (center-seated), Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan (third from right – seated), DOST Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa De Guzman (second from right- seated), PTRI Director Dr. Julius Leaño, Jr. (rightmost – seated), FPRDI Director Dr. Rico Cabangon (leftmost-seated), DOST Region VIII Director Dr. John Glenn Ocaña (second from left – seated), Ms. Anita Ogrimen of BANIG (fourth from left – standing), designer Anthony Legarda (rightmost – standing) and other officials for a group photo following their meeting held at the Philippine Textile Research Institute, Bicutan, Taguig City. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Taguig City, Philippines — Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, accompanied by Consul Rowena R. Pangilinan-Daquipil, paid a courtesy call on Undersecretary Sancho Mabborang of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on 7 July 2025 at the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) in Bicutan, Taguig City, to explore avenues for enhanced collaboration in science, technology, and innovation.
Held on the same day as the inauguration of PTRI’s Philippine Handloom Weaving Center, the meeting gathered key DOST officials and stakeholders including Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Assistant Secretary for Countryside Development Maria Teresa De Guzman, Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) Director Dr. Rico Cabangon, PTRI Director Dr. Julius Leaño, DOST Region VIII Director Dr. John Glenn Ocaña, and Ms. Anita Ogrimen of the Basey Association for Native Industry Growth, Inc. (BANIG).
Discussions focused on deepening support for community-based enterprises such as Samar’s weaving industry, particularly the award-winning brand Lara, which has transformed local livelihoods through design innovation and market partnerships. Governor Tan emphasized the brand’s evolution from a small souvenir project to a platform for global exposure and sustainable development, with technical assistance from DOST.
Consul General Ferrer expressed appreciation for DOST’s ongoing collaboration with the Consulate, particularly through cultural-scientific efforts such as The Hinabi Project and support for tech delegations to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). He welcomed possible partnerships to introduce Lara products to the San Francisco market, in coordination with PTIC-Silicon Valley.
The meeting also featured presentations from PTRI and FPRDI, showcasing the agencies’ work in sustainable textiles, forest products, bamboo innovations, and the use of technology for cultural preservation, environmental protection, and livelihood development.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco remains committed to science diplomacy and economic engagement that uplift Philippine innovation, talent, and heritage across the global stage. END
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer delivers his remarks during a meeting with Department of Science and Technology (DOST) officials led by Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho Mabborang, and Samar LGU led by Governor Sharee Ann Tan held at the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) in Bicutan, Taguig City on 7 July 2025. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan hands over a handcrafted Lara product to Consul General Neil Ferrer as a token of appreciation, highlighting the province’s vibrant weaving tradition and innovation, during a meeting with DOST officials at the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) in Bicutan, Taguig City on 7 July 2025. (San Francisco PCG photo)