The Mabuhay Folkloric Society delights the audience as they perform Tinikling along California Avenue in Palo Alto (San Francisco PCG photo)
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA – The Philippine Consulate General participated in the outdoor multicultural event organized by Neighbors Abroad titled, Calenda–Celebrating Across Three Continents, held on 26 September 2026 at California Avenue, Palo Alto. The event was a celebration of the cultures of Palo Alto’s sister cities in Palo, Leyte (Philippines), Oaxaca (Mexico), and Narok (Kenya).
The Consulate, together with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Silicon Valley (PTIC-SV) and the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in San Francisco (PDOT), set up a booth providing information on consular services, overseas voting registration, investment opportunities, Philippine tourism destinations, including the promotion of the 2027 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour Winter Escapade Edition on 7-17 February 2027.
The event also featured cultural dance performances from the Philippines and Mexico, a kids’ zone offering arts and crafts activities, a live-painting demonstration by Filipino muralist Venazir Martinez, interactive Maasai dancing, international vendors offering products from Palo Alto’s sister cities, and a mezcal-tasting activity. Neighbors Abroad is a non-profit, all-volunteer civic organization affiliated with Sister Cities International and the City of Palo Alto. Established in 1963, the organization focuses on exchange programs, cultural enrichment, service projects, and sustainability initiatives, as well as the coordination of official visits to and from various sister-city delegations.END
Above photo: Members of Maasai Diaspora lead the Maasai dancing with the audience;
Below: Stanford Mariachi opens the Calenda event (San Francisco PCG photos)
The Ballet Folklorico Mexico Vico performs along the streets of Palo Alto (San Francisco PCG photo)
Filipino muralist Venazir Martinez conducts a live-painting demonstration inspired by the Palo Alto-Palo, Leyte sister-city relationship (San Francisco PCG photo)
Left: DOT representative Ms. Tess Bautista answers queries on the 2027 VIP Tour Winter Escapade Edition; Right: Consulate representatives attends to Philippine booth visitors (San Francisco PCG photos)
The Philippine Consulate led by Consul General Arnel G. Talisayon (3rd from right), together with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Silicon Valley (PTIC-SV) and the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in San Francisco (PDOT), set-up a booth providing information on consular services, overseas voting registration, investment opportunities, Philippine tourism destinations, including the promotion of the 2027 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour (San Francisco PCG photo)
Left: Kenyan accessories sold during the event; Filipino American candle makers Mahal Scent sells Filipino-inspired soy candles during the event (San Francisco PCG photos)