05 June 2015 - The month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in San Francisco. Philippine Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. and Mrs. Mariza Bensurto attended the Asian Pacific American Heritage Awards Ceremony and Reception held on May 04 at the San Francisco City Hall.

The program highlights included the signing ceremony of the Proclamation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month signed by Mayor Edwin M. Lee, the APA Heritage Awards Presentation, and a cultural procession.

Mayor Lee invited all the Consuls General in San Francisco to join him onstage to present the proclamation to Ms. Claudine Cheng, Chair of the 2015 APA Heritage Celebration Planning Committee.

The proclamation pays tribute to the “generations of Asian Pacific Americans that have served the City and County of San Francisco in community and public service, contributing to [the] City’s history, economic vitality and culture. It also mentions that San Francisco is proud to be America’s “Gateway to the Pacific”, and celebrates these connections through a Sister City Agreement with Bangalore, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei.

This year’s theme was the celebration of creativity in design.  Filipina fashion designer Crisanta Malig was honored for her contribution to the community through the Fashion Arts and Youth Enterprises, Inc., which she founded to help young emerging artists who do not have the means to go to fashion design schools to pursue their dreams.

A cultural procession followed, showcasing the national costumes of the Asian Pacific countries represented in the San Francisco Community.

The event culminated in a reception featuring food from the Asia Pacific region. END