Reimagining Longevity: PH Consulate and UP Alumni in SanFo Spotlight Healthy and Purposeful Aging in Intergenerational Forum
Participants, speakers, and organizers gather for a group photo at the conclusion of the forum. (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF), successfully held the forum titled “Longevity Reimagined,” on 25 February 2026 at Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.
The event marked the second installment of the UP Connect Speaker Series, a joint initiative of UPAASF and the Philippine Consulate. The forum was also held in observance of the 80th Anniversary of Philippines-United States diplomatic relations.
The forum gathered over fifty (50) participants from across generations for a meaningful and forward-looking discussion on healthy aging, lifelong learning, and holistic well-being.
In her opening remarks, Acting Head of Post and Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes underscored that longevity is not only a health achievement but also a development imperative with significant economic and social dimensions. She emphasized that longer, healthier lives expand human capital, strengthen productivity, and reinforce intergenerational knowledge transfer, noting that longevity should be viewed as an asset to be optimized rather than a cost to be managed.
A special video message delivered by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Chairperson and CEO Atty. Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez was also played at the beginning of the forum. She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building an inclusive and dignified future for senior citizens through initiatives such as the centenarian cash gift program, establishment of senior citizen centers, and expanded digital services. Prior to the event, NCSC also provided key resource materials, including the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens (PPASC) 2023–2028, offering the speakers insights into ongoing Philippine initiatives supporting senior citizens.
Atty. Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission of Senior Citizens, delivers her message to participants in support of the forum discussion. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Dr. Jessica de Leon (left) and Dr. Minette Sy-Chan (right) share insights on healthy aging during the forum. (San Francisco PCG photo)
The forum featured two distinguished speakers. Dr. Jessica de Leon, Associate Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and clinician-researcher at the Fein Memory and Aging Center, discussed brain health, dementia awareness, and preventive strategies, highlighting culturally responsive research and assessment tools for Filipino communities.
Dr. Minette Alexandra Sy-Chan, a Stanford Longevity Ambassador, spoke on aligning healthspan with lifespan, emphasizing lifelong learning, purposeful engagement, and multigenerational workforce models as key pillars of resilient aging.
Panel discussion (from left to right): UPAASF President Letty Quizon, Ms. Perla Ibarrientos, Mr. David Berkowitz, Dr. Minette Alexandra Sy-Chan, and Dr. Jessica De Leon.
(San Francisco PCG photo)
An intergenerational panel discussion followed, featuring community leaders including Ms. Perla Ibarrientos, civic advocate and Board Chair of the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center, and Mr. David Berkowitz, Director of Research Software Engineering at the Toyota Research Institute. Panelists emphasized volunteerism, family support, lifelong adaptability, and cross-generational collaboration as foundations for aging with dignity and purpose. The program concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the speakers and panelists, reaffirming the Consulate’s commitment to fostering informed dialogue, strengthening intergenerational solidarity, and promoting inclusive and resilient communities both in the Philippines and among Filipinos overseas. END