FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY FETED DURING SAN FRANCISCO’S FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION; CONGEN FERRER AND MAYOR BREED LEAD FESTIVITIES
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer lauds the Filipino American Community in San Francisco in his remarks during the annual celebration of Filipino American History Month in San Francisco on 26 October 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer joined Mayor London Breed and the Filipino American Community in the 19th annual celebration of Filipino American History Month at the San Francisco City Hall on 26 October 2023—hosted by San Francisco Film Commissioner and Golden State Warriors “hype man” Franco Finn, and NBC Bay Area anchor Ginger Conejero-Saab.
Consul General Ferrer began his remarks by paying tribute to the late U.S. Senator and former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein, whom he called “a good friend of the Philippines.”
“Many Filipino Americans remember how then-Mayor Feinstein appointed people from the Asian American Community in San Francisco, including Filipino Americans, while in office. They also fondly remember how Mayor Feinstein attended many of their events, including at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, and how she took time to visit many of their homes with keen interest in knowing the condition of women of color, including female Filipino Americans,” Consul General Ferrer said.
In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer recognized the “immense contributions of Overseas Filipinos and Filipino Americans to Philippine economy and society”. He mentioned, in particular, the contributions of the Filipinos and Fil-Ams in Silicon Valley who are active partners in Philippine development and nation-building, and those by young Fil-Ams such as 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup goal-scorer Sarina Bolden, who previously played for the San Francisco Nighthawks, and the members of Northern California’s biggest delegation to the 2023 Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO).
Consul General Ferrer also noted the trade, business, cultural and humanitarian mission to the Philippines of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee, held from 25 March to 5 April 2023. With the start of United Airlines’ direct San Francisco-Manila service on 29 October 2023, he invited the officials present to join one of the Sister City Committee’s future missions to Manila.
“Mayor Breed: We would love to see you in a United Airlines or a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Manila to join the Sister City Committee’s future mission to the Philippines. We hope that you will discover for yourself why there is so much to see and much more to #LoveThePhilippines,” the Philippine Consul General said.
As San Francisco hosts the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting in November 2023, Consul General Ferrer said that he looked forward to the partnerships and exchanges that will be forged between the Philippines and the U.S.
“A partnership that I am especially looking forward to is the signing of a multimillion-dollar contract with San Francisco-based startup company Astranis on the sidelines of the APEC meetings, which will bring a dedicated Internet satellite to the Philippines benefitting millions of Filipinos back home,” the Philippine Consul General said.
“My sincerest gratitude goes to Mayor London Breed and the City and County of San Francisco for their continued recognition of our vibrant Filipino American Community in the city. We are especially proud of the contributions and achievements of our thriving community here,” Consul General Ferrer said.
The Philippine Consul General noted the recent appointments of Fil-Am Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto and Film Commissioner Franco Finn. He also thanked the City Government for its investments in the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District, including the provision of financial grants to Fil-Am groups United Playaz and the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center.
During the celebration, Mayor Breed presented her proclamation of October 2023 as Filipino American History Month in San Francisco, where she recognized “the Filipino American Community’s vibrant impact to the historic South of Market Neighborhood, [and] invaluable contributions to arts, business and cultural innovation.”
As part of the yearly celebration, recognitions were given to exceptional Filipino American leaders in San Francisco—including Chefs Francis and Dian Ang, owners of Filipino fusion restaurant Abacá (Emerging Leaders Award), Jocelyn Quintos, Board President of the San Francisco Municipal Executives Association (Community Champion Award), and author and retired professor Oscar Peñaranda (Trailblazer Award).
Fil-Am small business and community advocate Marjan Philhour served as a keynote speaker during the celebration, while Fil-Am singers Leon Palad, Dana Soliman & Raquel Basco and Filipino artistic groups Spark of Creation Studio & Parangal Dance Company also showcased their talents during the event.
Meanwhile, for the second time this year, the San Francisco City Hall was lit up with the colors of the Philippine national flag, in recognition of the vital contributions of Filipino Americans to the city. Previously, the City Hall was also illuminated in blue, red and yellow last June, in celebration of Philippine Independence Day.
2023 marks several milestone anniversaries for the Filipino American Community in San Francisco, including: 15 years of Parangal Dance Company; 30 years of the Pistahan Parade and Festival; 30 years of the Filipino International Cine Festival (FACINE); and 50 years of the San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce. END
Mayor London Breed (center-right) presents San Francisco’s Filipino American History Month proclamation to Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer (rightmost), during the official celebration of Filipino American History Month at the City Hall on 26 October 2023. Also in the photo are Entertainment Commissioner and Host Committee Chair Al Perez (center-left), and Protocol Chief Maryam Muduroglu (leftmost). (San Francisco PCG photo)
Filipino cultural group Parangal Dance Company performs traditional Philippine dances, as part of the official celebration of Filipino American History Month at the San Francisco City Hall on 26 October 2023. (San Francisco PCG photos)
The San Francisco City Hall is lit up with the Philippine national colors of blue, red and yellow on 26 October 2023, in recognition of the vital contributions of Filipino Americans to the city this Filipino American History Month. (San Francisco PCG photos)