CONSUL GENERAL NEIL FERRER PAYS COURTESY CALL ON MANILA MAYOR ISKO MORENO; STRENGTHENING SISTER CITY TIES BETWEEN MANILA AND SAN FRANCISCO
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso presents a token of appreciation to Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer during the latter’s courtesy call at Manila City Hall on 15 July 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco)
Manila, Philippines — Philippine Consul General in San Francisco, Neil Frank R. Ferrer, paid a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso at Manila City Hall on 15 July 2025, reaffirming the strong bonds between the cities of Manila and San Francisco and exploring opportunities to revitalize their sister city relationship.
Consul General Ferrer was accompanied by Consul Rowena R. Pangilinan-Daquipil. Upon arrival, they were warmly received by former Manila Congresswoman Cristal Bagatsing, who now serves as Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Tourism, Culture and the Arts of Manila (DTCAM). Ms. Bagatsing also joined Mayor Isko Moreno during the call.
Setting a nostalgic tone ahead of the meeting, the Manila City Hall Band led by its band master Maestro Daniel P Quianzon played Tony Bennett’s iconic “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” a tribute that underscored the deep cultural and emotional ties between the two cities.
During their meeting, Mayor Moreno and the visiting officials discussed the longstanding sister city relationship between Manila and San Francisco, and exchanged ideas on strengthening cooperation.
Mayor Moreno shared his administration’s efforts to modernize Manila while preserving its rich history and heritage. He also extended an invitation to Filipino Americans—especially those who trace their roots to the capital—to return and rediscover the city.
Consul General Ferrer expressed gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized the importance of cultivating sister city partnerships. “Manila and San Francisco share not only a sister city relationship but also a deeply intertwined history. We hope to build on this foundation to create new avenues of collaboration that benefit our communities on both sides of the Pacific,” he said. He also invited the Mayor to visit San Francisco in the near future.
As the meeting concluded, both sides expressed their strong commitment to advancing the Manila–San Francisco relationship and fostering greater cultural and economic exchange in the years ahead.
The visit was part of Consul General Ferrer’s engagements during the VIP Tour 2025, a flagship initiative of the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States, led by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. The tour promotes cultural reconnection, tourism, and grassroots partnerships between the Philippines and the Filipino-American community.
The first stop of the VIP Tour 2025 was Manila where activities included a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument, a guided historical tour of Intramuros, a culinary experience in Binondo, and a visit to Project PEARLS, a Tondo-based non-governmental organization dedicated to addressing child hunger and supporting vulnerable communities. END
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer signs the guest book at Manila City Hall ahead of his courtesy call on Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on 15 July 2025. He is the first official to sign the guest book at the start of Mayor Moreno’s term. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco)
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer engage in a meeting at Manila City Hall on 15 July 2025, discussing the sister city partnership between Manila and San Francisco, among other topics. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco)
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer and Consul Rowena R. Pangilinan-Daquipil pose with former Congresswoman Cristal Bagatsing at Manila City Hall, with Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s mural “Filipino Struggles Through History” serving as a historic backdrop. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco)
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer and former Congresswoman Cristal Bagatsing pose as the Manila City Hall Band performs in the background during the Consul General’s courtesy call on 15 July 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco)
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer thanks Maestro Daniel P. Quianzon, Band Master of the Manila City Hall Band, for the group’s heartfelt performance of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and Filipino classic “Dahil Sa Yo” following his courtesy call at Manila City Hall on 15 July 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco)