Consul General Ferrer fetes Vallejo Bay Area’s largest PH Independence Day celebration
VALLEJO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco took part in the 39th annual Pista sa Nayon (Village Festival) in Vallejo, California last June 7, with Consul General Neil Ferrer lauding the Bay Area’s biggest Philippine Independence Day celebration.
Organized by the community-run Philippine Cultural Committee, the Vallejo Pista sa Nayon returned to the Mare Island Coal Sheds and assembled Filipino American cultural performers, martial artists, food stalls and trucks, and apparel and handicraft pop-ups.
In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer congratulated the Philippine Cultural Committee and the Filipino Community of Solano County for spearheading the Vallejo Pista sa Nayon on its 39th year.
Consul General Ferrer also thanked the Solano County Board of Supervisors and the Vallejo City Council for their respective resolutions, proclaiming June 2025 as “Philippine Cultural Month” in Solano County and Vallejo.
“Almost 28,000 Filipinos and Filipino Americans live here in Vallejo… And yet, what sets the Filipino Community in Vallejo apart is not just its size, but the spirit of our community here. A spirit of resilience, compassion, and unity. You have preserved Filipino values, languages, and culture across generations while also helping shape the diverse and inclusive identity of Vallejo and the greater Bay Area,” said Consul General Ferrer.
“The Vallejo Pista sa Nayon is more than just a celebration. By gathering today, we reaffirm our heritage and identity. We declare that we are proud of who we are, proud of where we come from, and committed to where we are going,” Consul General Ferrer further said.
The Consulate also participated in the Vallejo Pista sa Nayon in a booth, which provided relevant consular information to Filipino nationals. Nearby, the booth of the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in San Francisco promoted Philippine tourism and shared travel information to the public.
Filipino American government officials present included: California State Senator Christopher Cabaldon; Vallejo, California Councilmembers Diosdado JR Matulac and Charles Palmares; and Vallejo Board of Education Member Glenn Amboy. Other top government officials in attendance included California State Assemblymember Lori Wilson, and Vallejo, California Mayor Andrea Sorce.
Among the headline artists were Bay Area-based Fil-Am rapper Ruby Ibarra, and “King of OPM” Ogie Alcasid who performed during the “The Filipino Channel Hour.”
In the early 1900s, the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard attracted Filipinos to work and eventually settle in Vallejo, creating one of the first Filipino Communities in the United States. One notable Fil-Am personality from Vallejo is award-winning singer and songwriter H.E.R., born Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson.
PH Consulate celebrates 2025 PH Independence with UCSF thru art, music & brain health discussion
Consul General Ferrer emphasized that the celebration of Independence Day is a special occasion to recognize and give honor to the courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of forebears to achieve the freedom that Filipinos currently enjoy. It is also the time to celebrate “what makes us proud to be Filipino: our culture, our creativity, and our community”.
The Consul General commended the work of the de Leon Lab — named after Dr. Jessica de Leon, a Filipino-American Assistant Professor at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center —which focuses on studying how bilingualism influences the trajectory of healthy aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
The program featured a variety of interactive activities designed not only to stimulate and exercise the brain but also to encourage artistic expressions, including creative writing and poetry workshops, parol-making, and music and dance demonstrations.
Young Fil-Ams re-discover their culture during visit to PH Center
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco welcomed 39 young Filipino Americans, aged 5 to 14 years, who are participating in the Filipino Education Center (FEC) Galing Bata ISLA (Immersive Summer Learning Adventure) Summer Camp on 20 June 2025 at the Philippine Center.
Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer led the Consulate in welcoming the summer campers to the Philippine Center. In his opening message, Consul General Ferrer emphasized that the program seeks not only to provide a fun and engaging way to learn about Philippine culture and heritage, but also to celebrate the dreams, identity, and cultural pride of the next generation of Filipino Americans.
He also commended the FEC Galing Bata for providing a powerful platform for young Filipino-American where both their hearts and minds can be nurtured.
The Consulate, along with the Philippine Department of Tourism Office (PDOT), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley (PTIC-SV), prepared interactive and engaging activities related to the Summer camp’s theme, “Isla ng Kagandahan – Discovering the Beauty of the Philippine Islands”.
All groups get to visit the following thematic stations to complete the series of activities. The summer campers were given a “Philippine passport”, which were stamped before proceeding to the next activity stations.
Station 1- Sentro Rizal: Participants took part in engaging trivia games that tested their knowledge of basic Philippine facts, with the chance to win fun prizes. In addition to the games, the facilitator introduced the traditional Filipino dance La Jota Moncadeña. After providing a brief background on the dance’s origins and cultural significance, a short demonstration using castanets was conducted. To further illustrate the dance, a video provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was shown as a reference.
Station 2 – Tourism: The PDOT organized a creative coloring activity for the summer campers, centered around the “LOVE the Philippines” tourism campaign. The facilitator explained the meaning and iconography behind the logo, highlighting how each symbol represents the country’s rich and diverse identity — from natural landscapes and cultural heritage to Filipino cuisine. The activity encouraged campers to engage artistically while learning more about what makes the Philippines unique.
Station 3 – Games: The PTIC-SV led participants in playing traditional Filipino children’s games such as Tumbang Preso and Sungka, and Limbo Rock. 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 – 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 — Philippine-made food snacks that showcased local flavors. To complete the nostalgic experience, ube and mango-flavored iced candies were also distributed, offering participants a refreshing taste of beloved Filipino treats.
Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes led a brief post-activity assessment, inviting feedback and reflections from the summer campers. She expressed her gratitude to the FEC Galing Bata, through its Program Director, Ms. Sarinas, for their collaboration, and thanked the campers for their enthusiastic participation. To conclude the activity, the Consulate conducted a “pabitin” game which was enjoyed by all participants.
The Consulate’s participation and support to the Summer Camp is in line with its cultural promotion and diplomacy program.
