San Francisco — Madame Miriam Ferrer, spouse of Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, hosted a walking tour of San Francisco’s vibrant Chinatown for the Legion of The San Francisco Consular Corps (LSFCC).
The tour was led by Julie Zarate Hudson, a Filipino-American who is a long-time volunteer and coordinator with the San Francisco City Guides. Through Hudson’s expertise and knowledge, LSFCC members were able to explore San Francisco Chinatown’s bustling streets and appreciate its rich multicultural history and tradition.
In her welcome remarks, Madame Ferrer expressed her gratitude to members of the LSFCC for their participation and enthusiasm to learn about the importance of the shared experiences of immigrants in San Francisco including Filipinos who account for the second highest number of Asian immigrants in California.
Highlights of the tour included visits to historic landmarks, such as Portsmouth Square, and famous alleyways adorned with colorful murals such as Ross Alley, known for the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, and Wentworth Alley, nicknamed Salted Fish Alley for the salted fish sold there in the late 1800s. Ms. Hudson highlighted the struggles of immigrant communities, primarily young Asian girls, that were forced into white slavery in the late 1800s and the displacement of elderly Filipinos and Chinese immigrants in the 1970s from the International Hotel building in Chinatown.
The tour finale is a lighthearted gathering for lunch, featuring the seasonal Dungeness crab at a local restaurant.
