PH CONSULATE JOINS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALAMEDA–DUMAGUETE SISTER CITY PARTNERSHIP
Led by Ms. Cynthia Bonta, Alameda City Vice Mayor Michele Pryor, and Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo, officials from Alameda and Dumaguete reaffirm their commitment to the Sister City partnership during the 10th anniversary celebration—underscoring continued cooperation and cultural exchange between the two communities.
San Francisco, 10 June 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joined the 10th Founding Anniversary celebration of the Alameda–Dumaguete Sister City Partnership held on 06 June 2025 in Alameda, California.
The event commemorated a decade of meaningful cooperation and cultural exchange between the two cities—an enduring example of people-to-people diplomacy rooted in the vision of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who championed the Sister Cities movement in 1956 to promote peace through mutual understanding and citizen engagement across nations.
Officials from Alameda, led by Ms. Cynthia Bonta, and Dumaguete City Mayor Hon. Felipe Antonio B. Remollo (who joined via Zoom), reaffirmed their commitment to the Sister City agreement, highlighting a shared desire to strengthen collaboration and friendship across local communities. The celebration also welcomed representatives from Alameda’s other Sister Cities—Jiangyin (China), Yeongdong-gun (South Korea), and Varazze (Italy)—as well as its Friendship City, Wuxi, China.
A key moment in the program was the unveiling of a commemorative artwork by Venazir Martinez, a contemporary Filipina artist known for her culturally rooted and socially engaged work. Her piece, featuring iconic landmarks and cultural symbols from both Alameda and Dumaguete, was formally presented to the City of Alameda and received by Vice Mayor Michele Pryor. The painting will be on permanent display at Alameda City Hall as a symbol of cross-cultural friendship and shared heritage.
The City of Alameda’s Sister City Program—administered in partnership with the Alameda Sister Cities Association (ASCA)—continues to build bridges of goodwill, understanding, and cooperation across borders. Since its establishment, the program has fostered educational, cultural, and humanitarian exchanges, honoring President Eisenhower’s original call for cities to take an active role in global peacebuilding.
The Philippine Consulate General commends the efforts of local leaders, partner organizations, and community members in advancing citizen diplomacy and nurturing connections that bring people, not just governments, closer together. END
Filipina artist Venazir Martinez (third from left) presents her commemorative artwork celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Alameda–Dumaguete Sister City partnership. Joined by members of the Filipino community and Vice Consul Hannah Go (rightmost), the artwork highlights the enduring ties between the two cities. The piece, featuring cultural landmarks from both Alameda and Dumaguete, will be displayed at Alameda City Hall.