PH Consulate Welcomes Students of South San Francisco High School for an Educational Visit
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes (7th from left; front row), Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipill (5th from right), Ms. Elisa Cabahug (6th from right), Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation International, Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros (leftmost, standing), Vice Consul Hannah Go (5th from left), Ms. Shari Balisi Manalang (6th from left), Principal of South San Francisco High School with other teaching staff and faculty of the South San Francisco High School, representatives from the ABS-CBN Foundation International and 27 high school students from the South San Francisco High School during the program at the Kalayaan Hall (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in partnership with the ABS-CBN Foundation International and South San Francisco High School, through Ms. Shari Balisi Manalang, welcomed twenty-seven (27) high school students from South San Francisco High School during their educational visit held on 25 March 2026 at Kalayaan Hall and Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center.
The educational visit aimed not only to provide information on the services offered by the Consulate, but also to raise awareness among young Filipino Americans about the Philippines, its culture and heritage, with the goal of strengthening their identity and enhancing their knowledge of the country.
At Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center, where the first part of the activity was held, Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes warmly welcomed the students, school staff and partners, and commended the organizers for the initiative. Vice Consul Hannah Go delivered an interactive lecture on the Consulate, including its functions, tasks, and services. She also provided an overview of the Philippines, covering its history, culture, arts, literature, tourism, as well as selected trivia and aspects of Filipino pop culture.
The participants were likewise provided with a brief museum tour of Sentro Rizal, where Filipiniana items and artworks were on display, facilitated by Ms. Genevieve Ferrer of the Philippine Center Management Board (PCMB). During the tour, participants were given additional information about the Philippine Center as well as about Dr. Jose Rizal–his life, literary works, and contributions to the country.
To conclude the activity, the students were asked to write a “letter addressed to the Philippines,” encouraging them to reflect on their thoughts and express what they feel about the country, what they appreciate, and what they hope for its future.
The Consulate commends South San Francisco High School and the ABS-CBN Foundation International for organizing initiatives that engage the youth and advance greater awareness and appreciation of Philippine culture and heritage in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Consulate likewise reaffirms its commitment to promote Filipino culture and heritage among the youth with the aim of instilling a deeper sense of cultural pride.END
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes (at the podium) welcomes the 27 high school students to the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center (San Francisco PCG photo)
First photo: Vice Consul Hannah Go begins her discussion on Philippine culture; Second photo: Vice Consul Hannah Go introduces to the participants some of the notable and inspiring Filipino Americans in the U.S. (San Francisco PCG photos)
First photo: Ms. Genevieve Ferrer, Administrative Officer of the Philippine Center Management Board (PCMB) spotlights on Dr. Jose Rizal during the Sentro Rizal museum tour; Second photo: Ms. Ferrer showing one of the famous poems of Rizal: the Mi Ultimo Adios with a copy inscribed on one of the pillars inside the Sentro Rizal museum (San Francisco PCG photos)
Students gather as a group representative reads the “Letters to the Philippines” written on the spot by their group members (San Francisco PCG photo)
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes (6th from the left), Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (3rd from the right) Vice Consul Hannah Go (rightmost), Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros (leftmost), Ms. Genevieve Ferrer (2nd from left), Administrative Officer of PCMB, Ms. Shari Balisi Manalang (4th from left), Principal of South San Francisco High School, Ms. Elisa Cabahug (4th from right) of ABS-CBN Foundation International with the teachers and sponsors of the activity (San Francisco PCG photo)