PH Consulate General Highlights Community Partnership in ‘Ikatlong Ulat Sa Pamayanan’
Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. addresses guests during the Consul General’s Ulat sa Pamayanan at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco, California on 22 February 2018. (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO 04 March 2019 – Partnership with the Filipino-American community is key to achieving the goals of nation-building beyond borders as emphasized by Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto Jr. in his Ikatlong Ulat sa Pamayanan (Third Report to the Community) on 22 February 2019.
In his remarks, Consul General Bensurto said that the 2018 was a momentous year for both the Consulate General and the community, as they have achieved much together in the spirit of partnership and cooperation. He underscored that the community plays a shared and pivotal role in nation-building and that the Filipino diaspora is deeply embedded in the national consciousness playing a significant role in Philippine development.
“Conscious of the vast potential of our diaspora, we at the Consulate anchor all our undertakings in the Spark*Connect*Empower (SCE) movement,” added Consul General Bensurto.
Through the signing of partnership agreements with 58 partners composed of various organizations, agencies, companies, and individuals both from the U.S. and in the Philippines, the Consulate General has developed a network of partners who will implement the SCE movement.
A number of initiatives under the ambit of the SCE Movement and which aim to promote economic opportunities for the Philippines, such as the launch of the Spark 447, were also highlighted in the report. Spark 447 is envisioned to be a shared working space at the Philippine Center on Sutter Street in San Francisco, which can be a hub for start-ups to develop their platforms and interact with one another. The website, spark447.com, is now live.
With the SCE as framework, the Consulate, in cooperation with the Filipino-American Community, the Consular Corps and U.S. and Philippine government and non-government institutions, implemented and participated in 170 events in 2018, including Independence Day activities, other cultural activities, training on Philippine culture, lecture and seminars, exhibits, etc.
The Consul General acknowledged members of the Filipino community in attendance including 10-year-old Filipino American swimming champion Clark Kent Apuada, who beat a swimming record of Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps.
Streamlining consular application processes was one of the Consulate General’s milestones in 2018. The Consulate General continues to upgrade its facilities, including the set-up of an electronic ticketing kiosk, which uses infrared printing, and provides consular information at the Philippine Center and the use of an electronic appointment system for dual citizenship applicants and oath-taking of qualified applicants.
Consul General Bensurto also underscored the Consulate General’s thrust to elevate the Philippines’ profile through representations as Dean of the San Francisco Consular Corps, an organization comprising 78 Consulates, representing one of the largest diplomatic communities in the U.S., and the League of San Francisco Consular Corps (LSFCC).
The Consulate also presented to the community the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) or Ambassador’s Tour and Filgrimage TV commercial produced by The Filipino Channel-ABS-CBN Foundation International in collaboration with the Consulate General and The Filipino School led by Mr. Tony Olaes.
“Our aspiration is to bolster an empowered community that elevates the profile and influence of the Filipino and Filipino-American Community in the U.S.; a Filipino-American Community that, in turn, empowers Kababayans back home,” the Consul General said.
The Consul General’s Ulat sa Pamayanan is an annual tradition of the Consulate General to welcome the new year in the company of the Filipino-American Community in the Bay Area and present to the community a glimpse of the past year.
Highlights of the Report to the Community could be read in https://sparkconnectempower.com/news-events/remarks-of-consul-general-henry-s-bensurto-jr-ikatlongulatsapamayanan/. END
Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. led the ceremonial toast during the Consul General’s Ulat sa Pamayanan at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco, California on 22 February 2018. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. (left) and Madam Ann Mariza Sanchez-Bensurto (right) pose with Filipino American swimming champion Clark Kent Apuada (center) during the Consul General’s Ulat sa Pamayanan at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco, California on 22 February 2018. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. with members of the Filipino-American Community in Vallejo. (San Francisco PCG photo)
For more information, visit www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.