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June 13, 2007
SF Consulate Hosts 109th Philippine Independence Day
The audience gives a standing ovation after the performance of the Hiyas Dance Troupe.
(From left to right) Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez, Mr. Mario Sanchez, Ms. Nini Alvero, Mr. Rene de los Santos form the reception line at the celebration in honor of the 109th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

(From left to right) Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez, Mr. Mario Sanchez, Ms. Nini Alvero, Mr. Rene de los Santos form the reception line at the celebration in honor of the 109th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

The audience gives a standing ovation after the performance of the Hiyas Dance Troupe.
The audience gives a standing ovation after the performance of the Hiyas Dance Troupe.
(From left to right) Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez, Mr. Mario Sanchez, Ms. Nini Alvero, Mr. Rene de los Santos form the reception line at the celebration in honor of the 109th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Major General William H. Wade II (leftmost) presented Consul General Sanchez (3rd from left) with a proclamation in honor of the 109th Anniversary of Philippine Independence Day.  Senior Airman Travis Gruber holds the print as Lt. Colonel Joseph Righello looks on.

Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez delivers her keynote speech.
Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez and the Philippine Consulate General Team in San Francisco hosted a reception in honor of the 109th anniversary of Philippine Independence at the historic Green Room of the War Memorial Veterans Building on 401 Van Ness Ave., in San Francisco at 6:30 in the evening on June 12, 2007.

The event was graced by members of the Consular Corps, officials from the State of California and the Mayor’s office in San Francisco, elected officials led by Mayor Jose Esteves accompanied by his wife Mrs. Susan Esteves, Filipino-American community leaders and many others. It is estimated that a crowd of at least three hundred trooped to the War Memorial.

The event included presentations of several proclamations by various public officials all recognizing the 109th Anniversary of Philippine Independence. Major General William H. Wade II of the California National Guard was one of the presenters and he talked about the joint efforts of Filipino and American soldiers in World War II, specifically the battles of the 149th Armored Regiment which fought in Bataan in 1941 alongside Filipino forces. Mr. Mario Panoringan, CEO of the Daly City – Colma Chamber of Commerce, presented a proclamation from Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. A representative of State Senator Carol Migden’s also presented the same.

Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez extolled in her remarks the economic gains made by the country and its vast potential, “The Philippine has become a competitive location in terms of global trade. With new revenues and improved fiscal investment policies the country is charting a new economic course. Our consistent and sustained growth over the last 6 years shows the commitment of the Philippine government towards bringing the economy to a new level of maturity.”

She also cited the contributions of the Filipino-American community to the Motherland, “Contributing to the robust growth of the Philippine economy as well are the remittances of our overseas Filipinos. In 2006, total remittance to the Philippines from overseas Filipinos was about $14 billion, our kababayans in the US accounted for over half of that.”

An even more positive development is that overseas Filipinos are investing their hard earned income in Philippine based industries, which has spurred even more economic development in the Motherland, especially in the properties sector,” she added.

The evening also featured cultural presentations from various art groups such as the Hiyas Dance Troupe, Mr. Cristian Serrano, Ms. Andrea Torio, and Mr. Ulysses Dumdum of the Fil-Am Veterans’ Rondalla.
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