PH Consulate in San Francisco Presents Spark Philippines Trade, Travel Fest

Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. addresses the Philippine exhibitor guests and the general public during the opening of the Spark PH Trade and Travel Fest on 16 January 2019 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California. (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO 06 February 2019 — To showcase the best of Philippine cuisine and travel, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco presented the three-day Spark Philippines Trade and Travel Fest (Spark Philippines) on 16-18 January 2019.

The event was a joint project of the Consulate General with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center and the Philippine Department of Tourism office in San Francisco under the Spark* Connect* Empower (SCE) movement.

The Consulate General partnered with Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) alumna Joanne Boston-Kwanhull in implementing Spark Philippines, especially its focus on Philippine cuisine, and travel company Pacific Air Leisure.

Spark Philippines happened on the heels of the Winter Fancy Food Show (WFFS) in San Francisco and featured Philippine exhibitors/exporters that participated in the biggest specialty food and beverage show in the West Coast.

Among those exhibited in Spark Philippines are as follows: Auro Chocolate, Bethany Sales Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc., CJ Uniworld Corp., Grand Asia Integrated Natural Coco Products Corp., Innovative Packaging Industry Corp., Pasciolco Agri Venture, Profood International Corp., Prime Fruits International Inc., San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc., Magicmelt Foods, Inc., SL Agritech Corp., Islamic Da’Wah Council of the Philippines, Inc. Saladmaster, Xroads Philippine Seasalts, Kusinero Alliance, and Mama Sita.

Spark Philippines’ first day was focused on trade in food. Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto Jr. welcomed Philippine exhibitors in the WFFS, guests and the general public to the event, which featured exhibit booths and Philippine products showcased in the WFFS. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia also graced the event during his short travel to San Francisco.

Consul General Bensurto also underscored the Consulate General’s support for Philippine exporters, Filipino American chefs in the Bay Area, and the tourism sector.

Live cooking demonstrations by talented Filipino American chefs were also featured such as Yana Gilbuena and Chef Danica Aviles of Pinoy Heritage. The chefs are known for their pop-up meals that feature Filipino gastronomic traditions using the latest culinary techniques and fresh locally sourced ingredients.

Consul General Bensurto underscored the SCE movement to spark pride and love of the Philippines and Filipino heritage, connect Filipino-Americans with the larger Filipino diaspora, Filipinos back home and their host communities abroad, and empower them to harness their heritage and history and develop their full potentials. He expressed hope that Filipinos are in turn, empowered to give back to their host communities and their country of birth and uplift lives in the process. He highlighted the objective of Spark Philippines, which is to showcase Philippine gastronomy and travel.

A pop-up dinner was featured on the third day with kamayan dinner by Chef Gilbuena. Some 70 guests, including Filipino Americans and foreigners shared a sumptuous Filipino menu, inspired by the chef’s Ilonggo roots. They ate with their bare hands on a long table of banana leaves. Consul General Bensurto opened the dinner with short remarks reaffirming the Consulate General’s support for Filipino culinary talents. END

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

Regional Office of Foreign Missions Head Clayton Stanger (second from right) joined Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr., Madam Mariza Bensurto (middle), Trade Commissioner May Niña Celynne P. Layug (rightmost), and Tourism Director Purificacion S. Molintas (leftmost) at the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the Opening of the Spark PH Trade and Travel Fest on 16 January 2018 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California. Looking on from the crowd (right side) is Mr. Matthew Davis, also a representative from the US Department of State in San Francisco. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Fil-Am Chef Yana Gilbuena, who has featured kamayan-style pop-up meals in all of US’ 50 states, welcomes the guests at the Pop-up Kamayan-style dinner during the Spark Philippines’ Day 3 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California. (San Francisco PCG photo)