UP’s Filipino Camp for Kids Visits PH Consulate General in San Francisco

SAN FRANCSICO 08 August 2018 — Thirty-seven Filipino-American children aged six to 12 years old visited the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on 25 July 2018, as part of their curriculum in the annual summer Filipino Camp run by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF).

Accompanied by volunteer teachers who were former UP students, the campers were given a tour of the Philippine Center, where they were welcomed by Consulates personnel headed by Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano. 

In line with the Consulate’s movement to Spark*Connect*Empower the Filipino-American Community, the Deputy Consul General thanked UPAASF and the parents for recognizing that “we are all culture bearers, and that living away from the Philippines means there is a greater need to pass on to the next generation our values and traditions,” and that exposing the youth to their Filipino roots and heritage is a tremendous service to the Community.

Consul Carlyn A. Monastrial gave a presentation on the functions of the Consulate General, followed by a presentation on the Philippines and some of its famous tourism sights. To test the children’s attentiveness, Consul Monastrial awarded prizes to campers who answered questions based on the presentations.

The camp’s core curriculum includes Tagalog and history lessons, and augmented by taste tests to familiarize children with Filipino food and delicacies. Lessons were also given on Filipino literature, dancing, drama, kulintang lessons, and cooking, to name a few of the classes offered during the camp. 

The camp began on 16 July 2018, will run for two weeks and culminate in a graduation ceremony featuring performances by the campers themselves. 

To the delight of the campers, the Consulate General treated the kids to a Jollibee lunch.  The Consulate was rewarded by a rendition of the Philippine National Anthem, and a chorus of “Salamat” (thank you) from the campers. END

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