PHILIPPINE CONSULATE JOINS VALLEJO SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION’S 19TH ANNUAL SISTER CITIES CELEBRATION
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes (3rd from right), Consul Marc Benigno (2nd from right) with Ms. Norma Placido, President of the Vallejo Sister City Association, (3rd from left), Ms. Dinah L. Villanueva-Ryan, President-Emerita of VSCA and Chair, Vallejo-Akashi and Baguio Sister City Committees (2nd from left), Councilmember Helen-Marie Gordon (center) and Mr. Tom Bartee, former Vice Mayor of Vallejo City (rightmost) during the fundraising event (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco showed its support to the Vallejo Sister City Association during its 19th Annual Sister Cities International Dinner and Auction held at the Filipino Community Center in Vallejo, California on 27 September 2025. The 57th Anniversary of the sister city relationship between Vallejo California and Akashi, Japan was the highlight of the event.
The Consulate was represented at the event by Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes, Consul Marc Benigno and Cultural Officer Anne Maris Estoya, who expressed warm greetings and congratulations to the officials of the Vallejo Sister City Association which has promoted peace, friendship and cultural understanding between Vallejo and its seven sister city partners: Trondheim, Norway; Akashi, Japan; La Espezia, Italy; Baguio City, Philippines (established in 1993); Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Jincheon, South Korea and Ensenada Mexico; as well as its three friendship cities of Muju, South Korea; Rota Island in the Mariana Islands and Parun, Afghanistan.
During her speech, Ms. Norma Placido, President of the Vallejo Sister City Association and a Commissioner of the Vallejo Sister City Commission, underscored the significance of the event as a celebration of global friendship and cultural exchanges.
Other dignitaries present during the event include Consul Kuroiwa Takumi of the Consulate of Japan in San Francisco; Ms. Elissa Shanks Stewart, Commissioner of the Sister City Commission and Vallejo District 6 Councilmember Helen-Marie Gordon. Local officials and members of the community of Vallejo and Solano Counties also graced the event. Proceeds of the fundraiser will be used to support cultural and educational exchanges, and humanitarian projects with Vallejo’s sister cities. END
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes (right) and Consul Marc Benigno (left) warmly greet Consul Kuroiwa Takumi (center) of the Japanese Consulate on the 57th Anniversary of the sister city ties between Vallejo and Akashi, Japan (San Francisco PCG photo)
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes meets Ms. Elissa Shanks Stewart, Commissioner of the Sister City Commission (top) and Councilmember Helen-Marie Gordon with Consul Marc Benigno and Ms. Dinah Villanueva-Ryan. (San Francisco PCG photo)
From L-R: Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes, Ms. Dinah Villanueva-Ryan together with Ms. Cristina Arriola, former Vallejo Councilmember and current Board member of the VSCA (San Francisco PCG photo)
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes and Consul Marc Benigno with the officials and members of the Vallejo Sister City Association and Vallejo Sister City Commission (San Francisco PCG photo)