PRESS RELEASE
SFPCG-PR-045-2021
PH CONSULATE COMMEMORATES DR. JOSE RIZAL’S STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 1888
SAN FRANCISCO, 28 May 2021 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco commemorated through a webinar the stay of Dr. Jose Rizal in San Francisco at the Palace Hotel on 4-6 May 1888 in the course of his only visit to the United States.
The online activity was conducted in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of PH-U.S. Diplomatic Relations, the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month, and the Philippine National Heritage Month, under the ambit of the Sentro Rizal San Francisco with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The webinar was livestreamed on Post’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PHinSF on 20 May 2021 at 6 PM, Pacific Time.
Filipino historian Dr. Ambeth Ocampo talked about Rizal’s experiences in the United States, where he experienced being quarantined for a few days, along with other Asians, before they were allowed to disembark in San Francisco. According to Dr. Ocampo, the experience tainted Rizal’s entire trip to the United States. He also touched on how the experiences of Rizal mirror the current issues of anti-Asian sentiments, especially in the context of the pandemic. He also explained the connections in the intertwined histories of the Philippines and the United States
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, in his welcome remarks, encouraged participants to remember and ponder on the close relations between the Philippines and the U.S. and “moments in the nation’s histories, like that of the national hero’s stay in San Francisco and his travel to other parts of the U.S, that are still relevant to this day and age.”
Dr. Ocampo’s lecture was followed by a question-and-answer portion, during which questions from the public through the Facebook livestream comments and webinar chatbox were responded to by Dr. Ocampo.
Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano gave the closing remarks. She underscored the need to continue fostering greater understanding of different cultures and histories, amid the many uncertainties that everyone is currently facing.
The event was made possible by the Sentro Rizal San Francisco, the cultural arm of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, with the valuable support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and GMA Pinoy TV. END.
