GOVPH

01 July 2014 - “The Philippines actually celebrates the Anniversary of the Proclamation of its Independence on June 12, but as you can see, it was such a joyous occasion that it now takes us a month to celebrate,” Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. said to an audience of over 6,000 people at Union Square, at the Bay Area’s closing celebration on June 21.  By that time, flag-raising ceremonies, parades and celebrations had already been held in over ten cities throughout the Bay Area. 

On June 12, a simple flag-raising ceremony, led by Consul General Bensurto, was held at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center.  ln his remarks, the Consul General stressed the importance of having a principled foreign policy and how this has elevated the Philippines in the esteem of our neighbors. He also added that “the Philippines must safeguard and protect what we have accomplished.”

The City of San Francisco also joined in commemorating this historical event as a flag-raising ceremony was also held in the Balcony of City Hall.  Mayor Edwin Lee and Consul General Bensurto together raised the Philippine flag, as the Consulate General personnel, members of the Filipino-American community and city officials sang the Philippine national anthem. The program was a short tribute to the extraordinary relationship that San Francisco has enjoyed with Manila and the Philippines, as well as the significant contributions of Filipino-Americans to the city.  In light of this relationship, Mayor Lee presented a Proclamation to Consul General Bensurto declaring June 12, 2014 as Filipino-American Friendship and Heritage Day.

A fitting finale to all the Philippine Independence Day festivities was the Kalayaan SF 2014, a two-day festival that highlighted Filipino ingenuity and presented to the mainstream public the best that Filipinos have to offer.  As a reflection of events that transpired in the Philippines the previous year, the theme for the second Kalayaan SF is Celebrating the Filipino Spirit: Resilience, Moving Forward and Giving Back.  This is the second year of the Kalayaan Festival, which is organized by Filipino-American community leaders in the Bay Area and the Consulate General.  

Kalayaan SF 2014 started off once again with the “Latitude/Longitude Business Conference.” Held on June 20 at the Philippine Center Gallery, this event was organized by the Science and Technology Advisory Council of Silicon Valley, in partnership with the Consulate General and the Kalayaan SF Organizing Committee.  Consul General Bensurto, in his keynote address, underscored the good governance agenda of the Aquino Administration and how it spurred the unprecedented economic growth in the Philippines. He also discussed what the Philippines is doing to promote regional peace and stability, which is the needed to sustain the region’s economic prosperity.

The conference put in focus the role of the Philippines in ASEAN, in terms of innovation, business and entrepreneurship.  Various Filipino American companies and start-ups, as well as Philippine social enterprises under GKnomics (Gawad Kalinga), were featured.  A panel on successful Filipinas in the business industry was another highlight of the event.

The second day of Kalayaan SF 2014 witnessed an expo that featured Filipino businesses, art, and culture.  Held on June 21 at Union Square Park, San Francisco locals and tourists were treated to a taste of Filipino culture, as well as the Filipino way of carrying out a celebration. Philippine cuisine, art, dances, songs and businesses took over Union Square Park, much to the enjoyment of general public.  In every inch of the city’s renowned landmark, one found cultural performances, such as folk dances from various regions of the Philippines.  Musical performances, such as the rondalla and the kulintang, were given a modern twist.  Visual installations that showcased the artistic and creative talent of Filipino-American artists could also be seen on the Square.  Successful Filipino-Americans in the field of politics, business, art and entertainment were honored as modern-day heroes.  Among those honored were Assembly member Rob Bonta, Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves, Daly City Councilmember Ray Buenaventura, Colma Councilmember Joanne Del Rosario, San Francisco Commissioners Hydra Mendoza and Al Perez, Author Geraldine Solon, News Anchor Henni Espinosa and Radio DJ Freska Griarte. 

As a way to reach out to the public, the Consulate General conducted an overseas voters registration during Kalayaan SF 2014.  Kababayans were able to register as voters for the 2016 presidential elections without having to take time off their busy schedules during the weekday.  As a result, a total of 45 voters were registered during the event. 

The day’s festivities concluded with a mini-concert.  Filipino artist, Cynthia Alexander, wowed the crowd with her unique sound.  The Filipino Channel (TFC) was present to entertain the public.  TFC hosts Lee Robin Salazar and Michi Valeriano engaged the public in a fun game, while the assembled crowd was later serenaded by popular Filipino singer Erik Santos.  The concert ended with a number by rising Filipino-American recording artist Julianne Manalo, who gave a powerful performance of her own.

The other cities in the Bay Area that commemorated Philippine Independence were Sacramento, Vallejo, Alameda, Hayward, Milpitas and San Jose.  END