PH Consulate Joins Lunar New Year Celebration at San Francisco City Hall
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes (leftmost, front row) with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie (6th from left), Chief of Protocol Penny Coulter (4th from left), and members of the San Francisco Consular Corps, during a photo opportunity (Photo courtesy of San Francisco City Hall)
San Francisco, CA – The annual celebration of the Lunar New Year was held at the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda on 23 February 2026. The event, hosted by the Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Foundation, was attended by city officials, members of the consular corps, community leaders, and APA Heritage volunteers.
The program featured a vibrant lineup of performances, including an opening Lion Dance by LionDanceMe company, a cultural presentation by students from Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, and a poignant poetry reading by San Francisco Poet Laureate Genny Lim.
As part of the celebration, the 2026 Year of the Horse commemorative stamp was unveiled to the public and will form part of the city’s official Lunar New Year observance initiatives.
In his remarks, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie highlighted that the Lunar New Year is a time when the City becomes a welcoming place for families from across communities and around the world to gather and visit its vibrant neighborhoods. Referring to the Year of the Horse, he underscored its symbolism of leadership, perseverance, and forward momentum. Mayor Lurie also reaffirmed the City’s continued focus on public safety, maintaining clean and safe neighborhoods, and advancing economic recovery across all sectors. He also emphasized the vital role of the Asian community in San Francisco, recognizing its vibrancy, cultural richness, and enduring contributions to the life of the city.
The Lunar New Year celebration was livestreamed in the city hall’s YouTube channel.END
L-R: Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros, APA Heritage Celebration Co-Chair FilAm Al Perez, Supervisor Connie Chan, and Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes pose with the 2026 Year of the Horse Commemorative stamp (San Francisco PCG photo)
Deputy Consul General Cortes with members of the Filipino American Community
(San Francisco PCG photo)
Cultural performance by Gordon J. Lau Elementary School students during the celebration
(San Francisco PCG photo)