PHL Consulate General in San Francisco Hosts ‘Philippines: After Hours’ for Young Diplomats

03 April 2018 SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in collaboration with Protocol Professionals Inc., hosted a social networking event dubbed, “Philippines: After Hours”, attended by young diplomats from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on March 15.

The event is the first time that the Philippines hosted an event for the YDC, a private organization, endorsed by the former Dean of the San Francisco Consular Corps, The Honorable Marc LePage of Canada. The intent of the YDC is to serve as a networking social group for young diplomats, through quarterly events that are held in various and unique Bay Area settings.

The Consulate took the opportunity to host the event as a fitting occasion to mark the Deanship of Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. of the San Francisco Consular Corps, and the Presidency of his wife, Mariza Bensurto, of the League of the San Francisco Consular Corps.

Consul General Bensurto welcomed the young diplomats to the Kalayaan Hall, saying that for the evening, “the Philippine Center is not just the home of the Filipino-American Community in the Bay Area, but your home, too.” He added that consular events are usually attended by the Consuls General or the Deputies, but the evening’s mixer was a chance for the Philippines to give the junior diplomats an opportunity to network and meet their counterparts in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Young diplomats were given a taste of Filipino food from Malasa Restaurant and Pinoy Heritage, while Heavenly Ice Cream gave out samples of ube, langka, mango and buko pandan-flavored ice cream.

The Kalayaan Hall was decorated to give the place a tropical feel as guests were treated to Filipino-inspired signature cocktails consisting of lambanog from Infanta Lambanog, and San Miguel Beer.  Wall tarpaulins of famous Philippine tourism sights were set up as backdrops for the night.  Filipino-American Zeyonce Brown rendered three upbeat songs for the crowd, followed by a live DJ, whose talent brought people to the dance floor.

Although the event was designed as a networking activity for junior members of the San Francisco Consular Corps, “Philippines: After Hours” was also a showcase of Philippine culture and values.  From the tropical atmosphere it projected, the appetizing culinary offerings, to the unmistakable brand of Filipino hospitality, guests were given a taste of what it feels like to be visitors in the Philippines. The evening’s very friendly and relaxed atmosphere, coupled with the Filipino values of pakikisama and pakikipagkapwa displayed by members of the Consulate, fostered camaraderie and good relations between and among colleagues and friends. The event provided the Consulate with an opportunity to promote the Philippines and the Filipino people by giving the members of the YDC a notable Philippine experience.

The young diplomats were profuse in their praise for an organized and fun event. END

For more information, visit www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.