PH Consulate General in San Francisco Joins Bay Area’s Fil-Am Community in 30th Pistahan Parade and Festival

PH CONSULATE GENERAL IN SAN FRANCISCO JOINS BAY AREA’S FIL-AM COMMUNITY IN 30TH PISTAHAN PARADE AND FESTIVAL

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco takes part in the Pistahan Parade, the largest parade of the Filipino American Community in the Bay Area, which commenced at the San Francisco City Hall on 12 August 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and its partner government agencies, led by Consul General Neil Ferrer, went in full force to show its support for the 30th Pistahan Parade and Festival, held in downtown San Francisco on 12-13 August 2023.

During the pre-parade program at the San Francisco Civic Center on August 12, Consul General Ferrer commended the Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) and the Fil-Am Community in the Bay Area for the milestone 30th year of the Pistahan.

“With this year’s theme ‘Celebrating our Legacy and Empowering our Future,’ Pistahan is calling on the next generation of leaders to keep the bayanihan spirit alive by fostering unity toward our common goals, and by empowering others to pursue their aspirations for the community and for our homeland, the Philippines,” Consul General Ferrer said.

“The Consulate looks forward to continuing its partnerships with the FAAE in mainstreaming Filipino arts and culture in America, and in strengthening people-to-people ties between the Philippines and the United States,” the Philippine Consul General added.

The Consulate, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Office in San Francisco, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Silicon Valley, and the Philippine Center Management Board joined the parade on Market Street—San Francisco’s main thoroughfare—to the tune of the DOT’s Bisita, Be My Guest campaign jingles.

The two-day outdoor festival featured specially curated pavilions that hosted booths and events on Philippine arts, dances, literature, fashion, sports and martial arts, food, and innovation, as well as kiosks by Fil-Am organizations that offer services and linkages to the public.

As one of the festival exhibitors, the Consulate ran a booth where the public could inquire about its passport and consular services, as well as travel packages from the DOT and trade information from the PTIC. The Consulate also promoted the upcoming 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, and the Philippine pilgrimage tour of the San Francisco Archdiocese’s Filipino Ministry.

In the Arts Pavilion, Filipino missionary visual artist Kristine Lim displayed her mixed art on canvas as part of the San Francisco leg of the Kuwento ng Alon (As Told By the Waves) world tour. This follows her art exhibit at the Philippine Center on 9-10 August 2023.

Thirty years ago, the Pistahan Parade and Festival was first held as part of the opening of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. In August 1993, the FAAE and the Filipino Arts and Cinema International (FACINE) respectively staged the Pistahan and the then-Filipino American Film & Video Festival (now known as the Filipino International Cine Festival). END

Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer (center-left) gives his remarks during the kick-off program of the 30th annual Pistahan Parade and Festival, at the San Francisco Civic Center on 12 August 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
 
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer (extreme left) with GMA International Head Joseph Francia (extreme right), and Cassy and Mavy Legaspi (center), two of the headliners of the 30th Pistahan Parade and Festival, prior to the start of the parade on 12 August 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
 
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco takes part in the 2023 Pistahan Parade on Market Street in downtown San Francisco on 12 August 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
 
The Philippine Consulate General, the Department of Tourism Office, and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center are among the exhibitors of the 2023 Pistahan Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco on 12-13 August 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)