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 support the return of the in-person celebration of the Pistahan Parade and Festival in downtown San Francisco on 13-14 August 2022.
During the pre-parade program at the San Francisco Civic Center on August 13, Consul General Ferrer commended the Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) and the Filipino American Community in the San Francisco Bay Area for staging the 29th annual Pistahan following two years of virtual festivities.
“I thank the FAAE, led by its dynamic President Al Perez, and its dedicated volunteers for their relentless efforts in mainstreaming Philippine culture and history in the Bay Area and beyond,” said Consul General Ferrer, who served as the Pistahan’s 2021 Community Grand Marshal.
The Consulate, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Office, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), and the Philippine Social Security System (SSS) Office joined the parade along Market Street, San Francisco’s main thoroughfare, which ended at the Pistahan Festival grounds at Yerba Buena Gardens.
The two-day outdoor festival featured specially curated pavilions that hosted booths and events on Philippine visual arts, dances, literature, fashion, sports and martial arts, food, and innovation. Filipino talents based in the Philippines and in the U.S. also took center stage for their live performances at the main entertainment area.
In the Arts Pavilion, Philippine-based visual artist Ian “Taipan” Lucero showcased his artworks featuring the Filipino calligraphy system “baybayin”. Lucero is a recipient of a grant from the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
As one of the festival exhibitors, the Consulate opened a help desk where the public could inquire about its consular services, as well as travel packages from the DOT and trade information from the PTIC.
At the Innovation Pavilion, Consul General Ferrer attended a talk on Filipino experiences in the American creative industry, while Vice Consul and Community Section Head Adrian Baccay joined a panel of speakers in a forum on government and community service.
Held every second weekend of August since 1994, the Pistahan Parade and Festival has become one of the largest gatherings of the Filipino American Community in Northern California, and one of the biggest celebrations of Philippine culture and heritage in the United States. Over the years, the Consulate and its partner government agencies have lent its support to the Pistahan as part of its economic and cultural diplomacy initiatives. END
