SAN FRANCISCO – The celebration of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence wrapped up in the Bay Area with a reception, organized by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) for local officials and the Filipino American Community at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco last July 2.
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer joined FWN Founding President and CEO Marily Mondejar in the Philippine Independence Day reception, which was attended by elected government officials including California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
Other elected officials in attendance were: San Francisco Supervisors Ahsha Safai, Matt Dorsey, and Rafael Mandelman; San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu; Fil-Am Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo; Fil-Am Vallejo Councilmember Rozanna Verder-Aliga; and Fil-Am Berryessa Union School District Board Vice President Thelma Boac.
San Francisco Supervisor candidate Marjan Philhour, who is running to become the city’s first-ever Filipino American Supervisor, also joined the event.
Mayor Breed personally presented Consul General Ferrer a copy of her signed proclamation, declaring 12 June 2024 as “Filipino-American Friendship and Heritage Day” in the City and County of San Francisco.
Consul General Ferrer began his welcome remarks by expressing his gratitude to the FWN and Mondejar for co-organizing the reception with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.
“The work of the FWN in expanding economic access for fellow Filipino women, developing the next generation of Filipina leaders in the diaspora, and eliminating discrimination and violence against Filipino women and girls, is truly admirable,” Consul General Ferrer said.
Consul General Ferrer also thanked Mayor Breed for her proclamation of June 12 as “Filipino-American Friendship and Heritage Day” in San Francisco.
“Indeed, as the Fourth of July approaches, we are celebrating not only America’s Independence Day, but also the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States, which Filipinos celebrate as ‘Philippine-American Friendship Day’,” he added.
The Philippine Consul General highlighted the recent high-level exchanges between the Philippines and San Francisco.
These include: the investment pledges secured during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to San Francisco for the 2023 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, including the deployment of two Internet satellites dedicated to the Philippines by San Francisco-based startup Astranis; the launch of United Airlines’ direct service between San Francisco and Manila, becoming the very first US airline to fly directly to the Philippines from continental United States; and the recent trade and business engagements under the San Francisco-Manila sister city cooperation.
“With the above-mentioned increase in engagements between our two peoples, I look forward to partnering with the state and local government, the business and tech sectors, and the Filipino American Community as we build a New Philippines or Bagong Pilipinas for future generations of Filipinos,” Consul General Ferrer further said.
Consul General Ferrer took pride in the contributions of the more than 4.2 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the US, of whom 45,000 call San Francisco home. He reminded the audience that the 31st annual Pistahan Parade and Festival, San Francisco’s biggest Filipino cultural celebration, is coming up in August.
In her remarks, Mondejar echoed the song “The Room Where It Happens” from the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” where she emphasized the importance of giving more Filipinos in the diaspora a seat at the table.
Mondejar recognized some of the pioneering Filipina leaders in California—including former California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the first Filipino and the first woman of color to serve as the state’s chief justice.
Singer Christine Adiaz commenced the formal program with her rendition of the US and Philippine National Anthems and concluded the celebration with a medley of Filipino dance songs. Young ballerina Elle Manalo Angeles performed “Graduation Ball,” a ballet in one act.
San Bruno-based restaurant Patio Filipino provided the evening’s Filipino fare including lechon and paella valenciana, while The Sarap Shop, which has a permanent stall at the Golden State Warriors’ home venue of Chase Center, gave away its famous “halo-halo milk tea.” The FWN reception is the last Philippine Independence Day celebration in the Bay Area this year. The Consulate took part in various government- and community-led activities over the past month—including the Philippine flag-raising ceremonies at the City Halls of San Francisco, San Jose, Daly City and in Colma, and the lighting of the San Francisco City Hall and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).