VIP TOUR 2025 KICKS OFF WITH WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT RIZAL MONUMENT; CONSUL GENERAL NEIL FERRER JOINS CEREMONY
VIP Tour participants from San Francisco, California and Seattle, Washington pose with Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Raquel Solano and Consuls General from Philippine Consulates General in the United States at the Rizal Monument in Manila following (San Francisco PCG photo)
Manila, Philippines – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer joined fellow Consuls General from across the United States in a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal on 7 July 2025, formally launching the 16th edition of the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour.
The ceremony was led by Consul General Arman Talbo of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, which is the lead Philippine Foreign Service Post in the U.S. for this year’s VIP Tour. He was joined by Capt. Jonathan A. Salvilla PN (GSC) and National Parks Development Corporation Executive Director Cecille Lorenzana- Romero.
This year, a total of 55 participants from San Francisco, the greater Bay Area, and Seattle, Washington took part in the VIP Tour 2025. Of these, 41 joined the main tour, while 14 signed up for the newly launched VIP Next Gen Tour—a more active itinerary geared toward adventure-seeking participants.
The main tour included cultural and historical visits to Manila, the heritage provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, and the scenic coastal city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The VIP Next Gen Tour, introduced for the first time this year, offers a more immersive experience, with participants traveling to Manila, the surfing haven of Siargao, and Puerto Princesa.
Organized annually by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States and led by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., the VIP Tour aims to strengthen the bonds between Filipino Americans and their heritage through tourism, cultural appreciation, and community engagement. END
Consul General Arman Talbo (foreground) leads the wreath-laying ceremony in Rizal Park, Manila on 7 July 2025, as Consul General Neil Ferrer (second row) stands in solemn attention. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Consuls General from Philippine Consulates General in the United States pose with DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Raquel Solano (San Francisco PCG photo)
Consul General Neil Ferrer (center) and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil (leftmost) pose with DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Raquel Solano (rightmost) (San Francisco PCG photo)