PRESS RELEASE
SFPCG-PR-38-2021
PH CONSULATE GENERAL IN SF JOINS FIL-AM COMMUNITY IN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION
San Francisco, 2 MAY 2021 – Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joined the Filipino American community in celebrating the Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month this May through the kick-off event, “Kasayahang Pinoy: Celebrate Resilience, Uplift Voices” held at Gene Friend Recreation Center in the cultural heritage district of SOMA (South of Market) Pilipinas.
“Filipinos have long been in the United States, as early as the 14th century during the [Manila-Acapulco] Galleon Trade and they have been contributing to the economic development of the United States from then until now,” Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer noted in his remarks.
He added that as the Philippines and the U.S. are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, there is a need to highlight the importance of people-to-people relations between the two countries and contribute to fostering greater understanding of cultures amid the rise in anti-Asian hate in some parts of the U.S., which also counted some Filipino Americans as victims.
On 1 May 2021, the Consul General attended the Asian Pacific American Heritage Awards at Japantown in San Francisco. The Awards recognized the San Francisco-Manila City Committee on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.
California’s first Filipino American State Attorney General Rob Bonta graced the celebration during which he underscored that he would continue to fight for the vulnerable and oppressed, especially at this time of the pandemic, which is marred by violent incidents based on apparent enmity against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
AG Bonta said he keeps a photo of a sign from a hotel lobby in Stockton, California in the 1920s that says “positively no Filipinos allowed” and reminded that at present, “everyone is not just allowed but everyone belongs.”
Other U.S. officials who graced the event included California State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney, Filipino American Mayor Juslyn Manalo of Daly City and Filipino American Vice Mayor Malia Vella of Alameda City. Ms. Claudine Cheng, San Francisco APA Heritage Celebration Committee founder and chair, was also present.
The Consul General attended the event together with his wife, Mrs. Miriam Ferrer, and all the officers of the Consulate, namely, Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, Consul Jed Martin A. Llona, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, and Consul Dominic Xavier M. Imperial.
The event, organized by Filipina Women’s Network, Filipino American Arts Exposition, United Playaz, West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center and APA Heritage Foundation, featured performances by DJ Eternal, West Bay Magandang Nanays, and Ms. Claire Amable. END
L-R: Ms. Claudine Cheng, APA Heritage Foundation president, Mr. Al Perez, organizer and president of Filipino American Arts Exposition, California State Attorney General Rob Bonta, Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, Mrs. Miriam Ferrer, Ms. Carla Laurel, organizer and executive director of West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center, and Ms. Marily Mondejar, organizer and CEO of Filipina Women’s Network.
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer gives remarks at the “Kasayang Pinoy: Celebrate Resilience, Uplift Voices.”
Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano with Daly City Mayor Jusly Manalo and her child.
West Bay Pilipino’s Magandang Nanays in a dance number