Colma Hosts PH Independence Day Flag-Raising for Second Straight Year

Press Release /
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer (center-right), joined by Colma Mayor Helen Fisicaro (center-left), holds the Colma City Council proclamation which recognizes June 12 as Philippine Independence Day, following the raising of the Philippine flag in Colma, California on 8 June 2022. Joining the Consul General and Mayor are, from left to right: Colma Councilmember John Irish Goodman; Fil-Am Colma Councilmember Joanne del Rosario; Fil-Am Colma Councilmember Diana Colvin; Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona; Vice Consul Adrian Baccay; and Tourism Attaché Soleil Tropicales. (San Francisco PCG photo)

COLMA, CALIFORNIA, USA – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer joined the officials and residents of Colma, California on 8 June 2022 for the raising of the Philippine national flag, in what is becoming a yearly tradition for the San Francisco Bay Area town in celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer expressed his gratitude to the Colma government, led by Mayor Helen Fisicaro, for spearheading the Philippine flag-raising ceremony for the second consecutive year. “In events like this, it gives me great joy and pride to see the national flag flying and the national anthem being played on foreign soil,” Consul General Ferrer said.

Consul General Ferrer also thanked Colma’s leadership for its support to the sizeable Filipino and Filipino American Community in the town, and its recognition of the significant contributions of the more than four million Filipinos and Fil-Ams in the United States.

“Colma is a special place for the Filipino Community. Not only is Colma the first town in the Bay Area to have both female Mayor and Vice Mayor of Filipino descent, but it is also the first to have elected two female Mayors of Filipino descent,” the Consul General added.

Prior to the raising of the flag, Mayor Fisicaro presented to Consul General Ferrer a proclamation signed by all members of the Colma City Council, recognizing Philippine Independence Day.

“Colma is proud to have strong ties to the Filipino and Filipino American Community; Colma has a significant Filipino and Filipino American population, as does the whole San Mateo County,” the City Council proclamation reads.

“The Filipino community is also represented in our business community; the Town’s largest business, Lucky Chances Casino, is a Filipino American-owned business; Colma also has several Filipino American community organizations that help serve our community, including Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center and ALLICE Kumares and Kumpares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthier relationships,” the proclamation further said.

Aside from Mayor Fisicaro, other local government officials in attendance include Fil-Am Colma Councilmember Joanne del Rosario, Fil-Am Colma Councilmember Diana Colvin, and Colma Councilmember John Irish Goodwin. END

Officers from the Colma Police Department raise the Philippine national flag in a ceremony held at the Colma Community Center in Colma, California on 8 June 2022, as Philippine Tourism Attaché Soleil Tropicales (behind the podium) sings the Philippine national anthem. (San Francisco PCG photo)