20 July 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in partnership with the Filipino-American Community, KalayaanSF 2015 Committee held three major events in commemoration of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, namely, an Evening Gala at the San Francisco City Hall on June 12; SangDiwa, a Global Arts Forum and Exhibition at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall on June 20, and the Cultural Expo at Union Square on June 27.
Following the traditional flag-raising event held on June 12 with Mayor Edwin Lee at the San Francisco City Hall, an Evening Gala was held at the City Hall, starting with an official opening program at the Grand Rotunda, followed by a sit-down dinner at the North Light Court.
In his remarks, Philippine Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. said that our Filipino identity is “the root that sustains our sense of identity, self-worth, and personal convictions,” and that “by connecting like-minded Filipino-American organizations and individuals, we can harness each other’s strengths and reach even greater heights.” He stressed the importance of ensuring that the continuity of our purpose is passed on from one generation to another.
Mayor Edwin Lee welcomed to the City Hall the numerous attendees that included members of the Filipino-American community, consular corps and guests from various sectors who attended the event. In his remarks, he mentioned the memorable trip he took to Manila with the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, stating that “the Philippines is part of [America’s] own history.” He said that California is dependent on global relations, and that instead of thinking globally and acting locally, we must “think globally and act globally.” He assured the Filipino-American community that San Francisco is willing to assist the Philippines, especially when it comes to disaster preparedness, and stressed how grateful he was for the open relationships between San Francisco and Manila.
Assembly Member David Chiu presented Consul General Bensurto with a certificate in remembrance of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and thanked the Filipino-American community for their countless contributions to the state of California.
Consul General Bensurto and Mrs. Bensurto led Consulate General and prominent Filipino-American community members, such as Mayor Joanne del Rosario of Colma, in a rigodon de honor dance number that opened the Evening Gala.
The seated dinner was accompanied by performances from talents in the Bay Area, as well as that of The Filipino Channel, including child prodigy and cellist Matthew John Ignacio, jazz pianist Tateng Catindig and Broadway actress Joan Alemdilla.END