PH FLAG RAISED AT SAN FRANCISCO’S HISTORIC CITY HALL; JUNE 12 DECLARED AS FIL-AM FRIENDSHIP AND HERITAGE DAY IN THE CITY
SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Mayor London Breed congratulated the people of the Philippines on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, in her proclamation declaring 12 June 2023 as “Filipino-American Friendship and Heritage Day” in the City and County of San Francisco.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joined the annual hoisting of the Philippine national flag at the Mayor’s Balcony of the San Francisco City Hall on Independence Day, June 12, led by Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer and San Francisco Director for International Trade and Commerce Mark Chandler.
Following the raising of the national flag and the singing of the national anthem, Director Chandler presented Mayor Breed’s proclamation to Consul General Ferrer.
“San Francisco has a longstanding history of openness and respect for people of all backgrounds, and today, on the occasion of the Philippine Independence Day we particularly recognize the important contributions made to our city by Filipino-Americans,” Mayor Breed’s proclamation reads.
In her proclamation, Mayor Breed also “looks forward to continued friendship and partnership with the Philippines as we work to promote peace and mutual understanding through meaningful people-to-people activities including municipal, business, trade, educational, and cultural exchanges.”
Director Chandler personally noted the special relations between the two nations following his visit to the Philippines in March and April 2023—as one of the heads of delegation of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee’s business, cultural, and humanitarian mission to Manila, Cebu and Siargao Island.
In response, Consul General Ferrer expressed his gratitude to Mayor Breed, Director Chandler, and the City and County of San Francisco for their continued recognition of the 45,000-strong Filipino American Community in San Francisco.
The Philippine Consul General looks forward to stronger linkages between the two countries in the economic, scientific, educational, cultural, and people-to-people spheres—following the recent renewal of the sister city ties between Manila and San Francisco, and as the city welcomes the world this fall for the 2023 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting.
Other officials and dignitaries in attendance include Senior Protocol Officer Meron Foster, Protocol Program Officer Liston Hulse, Fil-Am Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto, San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee Chair Carmen Colet, and Consular Liaisons Robert and Kathleen Fotheringham of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Francisco.
To cap off the Filipino-American Friendship and Heritage Day, the San Francisco City Hall was lit up with the Philippine national colors of blue, yellow and red. END
