PH CONSULATE JOINS SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR DANIEL LURIE IN CELEBRATING THE 21ST FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
San Francisco City and County Mayor Daniel Lurie (left) and Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes (right) delivering their remarks for the Filipino American History Month celebration at the San Francisco City Hall (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joined the 21st annual official celebration of the Filipino History Month of the City and County of San Francisco held at the San Francisco City Hall on 23 October 2025.
This year’s public event carried the theme, “Roots, Routes, and Resilience – The Filipino American Migration Journey,” which celebrated and honored the triumphs and challenges of Filipino Americans in the United States, highlighting their enduring spirit, contributions, and journey toward building thriving communities across the nation.
During the program, Mayor Daniel Lurie recognized the significant contributions of the Filipino community in shaping the history and character of San Francisco, describing it as a “source of strength, culture, and pride woven into the fabric of the city.” He commended the enduring Filipino spirit and pride exemplified by Filipino American healthcare workers, educators, entrepreneurs, and community organizations, highlighting the impactful work of SOMA Pilipinas, Bindlestiff Studio, Kultivate Labs, KULARTS, Westbay, and United Playaz.
Mayor Lurie presented a proclamation officially declaring the month of October as Filipino American History Month in San Francisco. The proclamation was received by distinguished Filipino American community leaders: Ms. Marily Mondejar, Founder and CEO of the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network (FWN); Ms. Luisa Antonio, Executive Director of the Bayanihan Equity Center–both organizations marking their 25th anniversary in 2025; and Ms. Alleluia Panis, Director of Kularts, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
On behalf of Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes took the opportunity to express gratitude to Mayor Lurie for recognizing the invaluable contributions of Filipino Americans to the City and County of San Francisco. She also encouraged the Filipino American community to honor the sacrifices of the early Filipino pioneers who paved the way in establishing the community’s identity and legacy, and to ensure that their stories of struggle, resilience, and triumph continue to be remembered and shared with future generations.
As part of the annual celebration, outstanding Filipino American leaders in San Francisco were honored for their remarkable contributions to the community. Kiki Lopez received the Emerging Leaders Award for her impactful work as Community Engagement Coordinator at the San Francisco Community Health Center and as Program Manager for the CRDP / Stop The Hate Program supporting the LGBTQ community. Hydra Mendoza, Vice President and Chief of Strategic Relationships in the Office of the Chair and CEO at Salesforce, was recognized with the Community Champion Award for her leadership and dedication to advancing community initiatives. Judge Ronald Quidachay, retired San Francisco Superior Court judge and the first Filipino American to serve in the California judiciary, was presented with the Trailblazer Award for his pioneering accomplishments and lifelong commitment to justice and public service.
The Aegis Band, Legacy Filipino Martial Arts, the SOMA Seniors, and LIKHA-Pilipino Folk Ensemble graced the event with captivating performances that added energy to the celebration, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and talent of the Filipino community.
A Filipino-themed reception and marketplace followed the program, featuring local vendors and cultural displays. The highlight of the reception was the appearance of the beloved Jollibee mascot, representing one of the event’s major sponsors and delighting guests of all ages.
To cap the celebration, the San Francisco City Hall was illuminated at night with the vibrant colors of the Philippine national flag–a symbolic tribute to the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the United States, and to the invaluable contributions of the Filipino American community in the city. END
Mayor Daniel Lurie (9th from the left), with the outstanding Filipino leaders awardees and their families, members of the Filipino American History Month organizing committee, Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes (fourth from the right), and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (second from right) at the Office of the Mayor (San Francisco PCG photo)
Ms. Cassandra Conde singing the Philippine National Anthem(San Francisco PCG photo)
Mayor Daniel Lurie (2nd from the left), flanked by Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (leftmost), Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes (2nd from the right) and Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros at the Office of the Mayor (San Francisco PCG photo)
Outstanding Filipino community leaders for this year: Hydra Mendoza (Community Champion) (leftmost), Judge Ronald Quidachay (Trailblazer Awardee) (third from the left) and Kiki Lopez (Emerging Leaders Awardee) (4th from the left) holding their plaques during the awarding ceremony
Entertainment for the night includes cultural performances from the SOMA Seniors (left) and LIKHA-Pilipino Folk Ensemble (right)
Legacy Filipino Martial Arts with their martial arts demonstration (San Francisco PCG photo)
Philippine Consulate team led by Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes (6th from the left), together with Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (6th from the left), Consul Marc Theodore Benigno (4th from the right), Vice Consul Hannah Go (3rd from the right), Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros (5th from the left), and Trade Commissioner Anne Marie Kristine Umali (2nd from the right) after the program (San Francisco PCG photo)
Philippine Consulate representatives at the registration area (San Francisco PCG photo)
Mayor Daniel Lurie presents a proclamation officially declaring the month of October as Filipino American History Month in San Francisco. The proclamation was received by distinguished Filipino American community leaders (San Francisco PCG photo)
San Francisco City Hall illuminated with Philippine Flag colors on 23 October 2025 as part of the celebration of the Filipino American History Month (San Francisco PCG photo)