27 August 2015 - The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAA-SF), in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, Ramarfoods International Scholarship Foundation, the Office of the SF Mayor’s Adviser on Education and Family Services, and the Holy Child St. Martin Church / St. Stephen High School Alumni Association – NorCal held the Third Annual Filipino Cultural Summer Camp, a cultural and educational program, at the Holy Child St. Martin Church Community Hall in Daly City from July 20 to 24, and from July 27 to 31.

With the desire to ultimately have a Philippine Heritage Learning and Leadership Institute in the Bay Area, the Summer Camp is one of UPAA-SF’s banner projects held towards achieving this goal. The Summer Camp gave Filipino-American kids from ages 10 to 15 years old an opportunity to immerse themselves in Philippine culture.  The course syllabus included modules on history, Tagalog, art, music, dance, literature and Filipino cuisine. 

The campers met with Filipino-American role models and achievers such as Daly City Mayor Ray Buenaventura, Colma Mayor Joanne del Rosario, Daly City Councilman Mike Guingona, Bank of America Vice President Sonia Delen, Academy of the Arts Vice President Rebecca Delgado-Rottman, and Google executive Regina Sawhney, who gave inspirational talks in the course of the camp.

The campers also paid a visit to the Philippine Consulate General.  Vice Consul Carlyn A. Monastrial gave the campers a brief overview of the functions of the Consulate, and toured them around the Philippine Center. To enhance their visit, the campers were given an opportunity to explore the Philippine Folklife Museum housed at the Center’s Social Hall.  Especially interesting for the children was the exhibit on the family members of our national hero, Jose P. Rizal. 

Madame Mariza Bensurto was one of the inspirational speakers at the graduation, which was held on July 31. In her remarks, she said that, “Patriotism, like any other virtue, is a repetition of good acts so that it becomes a habit. But one cannot love what one does not know.  Therefore, for you to love the Philippines, you have to know the Philippines – its land, its people, and its culture or way of life.”

Both the campers and their parents had positive things to say about the camp. The parents were grateful for the opportunity to immerse their children in Filipino culture, especially since all of the campers were born in the U.S. and have limited exposure to the Philippines.  The immersive program fostered in the children a curiosity for the country’s national heroes and language, and the interaction with prominent Filipino-Americans inspired them to achieve and perform to the best of their abilities. 

Parents from as far as Sacramento City have signified interest in enrolling their children during the next session of the Summer Camp. END