UPAASF Summer Campers Experience Philippine Culture During Visit at the Philippine Center

UPAASF SUMMER CAMPERS EXPERIENCE PHILIPPINE CULTURE DURING VISIT AT THE PHILIPPINE CENTE

Consulate officials headed by Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes with the summer camp participants and the Board of Directors of UPAASF and facilitators during their field trip at the Consulate on 16 July 2025 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco welcomed 24 young Filipino Americans, aged 6 to 12 years, who are participating in the 12th University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) Cultural Immersion Summer Camp on 16 July 2025 at the Philippine Center.

Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes led the Philippine Consulate in opening the Kalayaan Philippine Center for the 2025 Cultural Immersion summer campers. She conveyed to the young campers that they can expect fun-filled activities, games, and food that will make them experience what it is like to grow up in the Philippines particularly during the summer season.

She also expressed her gratitude to the UPAASF for their dedication in cultivating the young minds of second and third generation Filipinos to develop love and pride for the Philippines. She likewise reaffirmed the consulate’s commitment to partner with UPAASF in its advocacy to ensure that the vibrant Philippine culture continues to flourish and be appreciated by Filipinos and other nationalities in the Bay Area.

The Consulate, along with the Philippine Department of Tourism Office (PDOT), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley (PTIC-SV), prepared varied interactive and engaging activities for the campers as they visited the following thematic stations:

Station 1 – Sentro Rizal: Post’s Cultural Section organized engaging Philippine trivia and scavenger hunt games focused on Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine national heroes, renowned personalities, and unique cultural traditions.

Station 2 – Tourism: The Philippine Department of Tourism prepared a fun and educational coloring activity for the summer campers. Prior to the activity, the facilitator explained the meaning behind the “LOVE the Philippines” logo. Prizes were distributed DOT to the top 5 artworks submitted. Later during the program, DOT also provided videos of top tourist destinations and cuisines in the Philippines.

Station 3 – Traditional games: The PTIC-SV took on the role of game masters, leading participants in traditional Filipino children’s games such as Tumbang Preso, Limbo Rock, and Holen with a Twist. These classic games offered the summer campers a fun and interactive way to experience Filipino culture, fostering camaraderie, and a sense of tradition through games.

Station 4 – Activity in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Philippine Center.

The Philippine Center Management Board, through Building Manager Genevieve Ferrer, conducted a puzzle game depicting the old “Philippine Center Building” which showed the competitive spirit of the summer campers. Ms. Ferrer explained that the building itself is already 100 years old and that it has witnessed various milestones and housing the Philippine Consulate.

Station 5- Food and products: At the “Aling Conching Sari-sari Store,” the PTIC-SV hosted a palabunutan activity where participants drew lots to win guaranteed prizes of Philippine food snacks. Ube and mango-flavored iced candies were also distributed which provided participants with staple summer treats in the Philippines.

After every visit in each station, the participants presented their “Philippine passports” to be stamped by the facilitator which allowed them to proceed to the next station. During lunch, all attendees had Jollibee meals, which proved to be a crowd favorite and added a familiar, joyful taste of home to the experience.

To cap the activity, the Cultural Section organized a traditional pabitin game to the delight of the campers.END

Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes encouraging active participation from the summer campers during her opening message (San Francisco PCG photo)

Station 1. Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros facilitating the Philippine trivia and scavenger hunt games (San Francisco PCG photo)

Station 2 – Ms. Tess Bautista (standing, in black) of the Philippine Department of Tourism-San Francisco facilitated the coloring activity of the LOVE the Philippines logo (San Francisco PCG photo

Station 3: Campers playing the game of holen and limbo rock (San Francisco PCG photo)

Station 4. Ms. Genevieve Ferrer provides a background of the old Philippine Center Building which the campers will recreate as they do the puzzle game (San Francisco PCG photo)