PCG San Francisco Launches Spark*Connect*Empower Movement
Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, together with Consul General Henry Bensurto, Jr., leads the ribbon cutting of the Spark*Connect*Empower launching at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francico on 22 May 2018. (San Francisco PCG Photo)
SAN FRANCISCO 07 June 2018 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco recently launched the Spark*Connect*Empower (SCE) movement that seeks to connect and empower members of the Filipino Community.
The formal grand launching was led by Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez and Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center Building on 22 May 2018.
In attendance were over 100 guests from various Filipino community organizations and the media who also took the opportunity to meet Ambassador Romualdez who has traveled to San Francisco for the first time in his official capacity.
Consul General Bensurto said, the SCE movement aims to bring together various Filipino-American organizations and individuals towards sparking love of country among the second, third and fourth generation of Filipino-Americans, connecting them with each other through various networking platforms and ultimately empowering them to organize various activities and programs that contribute to nation building.
“If this present generation of Filipinos does not exert effort to inculcate or share their culture with their sons and daughters, why would those sons and daughters of yours fall in love with what is Filipino? This is the challenge before us.” Consul General Bensurto said.
In his keynote speech, Ambassador Romualdez praised the SCE movement declaring that “this is the way to go” with respect to cultural diplomacy. He encouraged other Foreign Service Posts to emulate this program of the Consulate. The Ambassador also discussed the importance of collective nation building among the youth under the ambit of the SCE movement.
To mark the grand launch, several flagship projects were also inaugurated on said day. The Spark447, which aims at providing Fil-Am start-up companies a co-working space at the 4th floor of the building, was officially opened. During the reception for the Ambassador, JR Calanoc, CEO of Panalo Solutions, presented the SCE website which went live during the grand launch. The SCE’s battle cry, the SCE theme song, composed and produced by Filipino artist and singer-song writer Dandin Ranillo, was also presented to the public.
Consul General Bensurto said several organizations, companies and individuals, who share in the vision of the SCE have pledged their full support and commitment to the objectives of the movement. These groups and individuals have partnered with the Consulate General to affirm their commitment. Among them are PLDT, Philippine Airlines, The Filipino Channel, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), One World Institute, and Mama Sita’s.
Organizations interested in becoming an SCE partner may email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Ambassador Romualdez addresses the audience with is keynote speech. (San Francisco PCG Photo)
Consul General Bensurto delivers his remarks. (San Francisco PCG Photo)
For more information, visit www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.