PH Consulate Partners with the Golden Gate University for the Immersion Program for Philippine Government Officials
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes (seated, 6th from left), Golden Gate University (GGU) Vice Provost Dr. Jay Gonzalez (seated, 7th from left), GGU staff, Consulate officials, and participants to the immersion program during the closing ceremony (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco collaborated with Golden Gate University (GGU) for the Golden Gate University San Francisco-Silicon Valley Immersion Program, held from 17 to 21 November 2025. The program brought together local government officials from various provinces and municipalities across the Philippines for a series of engagements designed to broaden their exposure to innovative practices in governance, technology, and community development.
Participants joined both on-campus and off-campus lectures, as well as site and company visits, which included an immersive tour of the San Francisco City Hall and the Google Mountain View Global Headquarters. Among others, the program aims to equip participants with advanced knowledge of entrepreneurship within the San Francisco–Silicon Valley ecosystem, as well as insights on innovation, technological advancements, and the importance of networking. The GGU held its culmination program at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.
Participants and Consulate officers during their site visit to the Google Mountain View Global Headquarters (San Francisco PCG photo)
During the closing ceremony, Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes commended GGU for organizing the immersion program and providing opportunities to Philippine local government officials to engage with entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and educators and tech practitioners from San Francisco-Silicon Valley. She also recognized the participants in their commitment to continuously learn and innovate for better governance and service to their communities in the Philippines.END
Tarlac Governor Christian Tell Yap (middle) receives his certificate of completion from Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes (leftmost) and Dr. Jay Gonzalez of GGU (rightmost) during the closing ceremony at the Philippine Center (San Francisco PCG photo)
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes (3rd from left) speaks during the closing ceremony flanked by (from left to right), Vice Consul Hannah Go, Consul Marc Theodore Benigno, Dr. Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Founding Dean of the Golden Gate University Worldwide, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil and Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros (San Francisco PCG photo)