San Francisco, California — In celebration of Philippine Independence Day and Filipino American Heritage and Friendship Day, San Francisco City Hall and San Francisco International Airport glowed in the colors of the Philippine flag on June 12.
On the East Coast, 14 renowned landmarks, including the One World Center in New York City, joined the luminous tribute to the Philippines’ national flag.
San Francisco marked the 126th anniversary of Philippine Independence with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, led by Mayor London Breed. She proclaimed June 12 as Filipino American Heritage and Friendship Day, acknowledging the invaluable contributions of Filipino Americans to the city.
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer received the proclamation, expressing gratitude for San Francisco’s continuous recognition of the Fil-Am community’s impact. He highlighted annual celebrations like the Pistahan Parade & Festival and Filipino Heritage Nights as examples of this recognition.
Around 50 guests from Fil-Am organizations enjoyed Filipino cuisine at the celebration in the Mayor’s office, where dignitaries like Fil-Am San Francisco Entertainment Commissioners Al Perez and Anthony Schlander joined in.
In San Jose, the largest city in the Bay Area, Philippine Independence Day was also honored with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, attended by Consul General Ferrer and representatives from Fil-Am groups.
Ferrer emphasized the strong bonds between the Philippines and the United States, especially through the vibrant Filipino community contributing significantly to San Francisco and San Jose’s cultural tapestry.
