24 February 2016 - Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. graced the inauguration of the Island Pacific Supermarket branch in Seattle, Washington on February 08. The Consul General, Island Pacific Founder and CEO Nino Jefferson Lim, and Seattle Mayor Edward Murray led the ribbon cutting ceremony.
City, county and state officials, Filipino-American community leaders and representatives from media and business also attended the event.
Island Pacific’s Seattle branch is the first in Washington State and its 15th in the US.
In his remarks during the program, Consul General Bensurto said, “Today’s store opening in Seattle is a clear recognition of the long thriving presence of the Filipino-American community in the US Pacific Northwest,“ Island Pacific Founder and CEO Mr. Lim, noted the Consul General’s observation, which he said was the main reason why they opened a branch in Seattle.
Mayor Murray likewise underscored the growing Filipino American community and added that it was one of the pioneer communities in Seattle and even in the State of Washington. As of the 2010 US Census, there are 137,083 Filipino-Americans who have called Washington State their home.
Consul General Bensurto also highlighted the example set by Island Pacific in showcasing Filipino American entrepreneurship and in promoting Filipino culture through food. END