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16 June 2006—The Philippine flag was hoisted over historical San Francisco City Hall on Monday, 12 June 2006. Mayor Gavin Newsom welcomed Consul General Sanchez to 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place and helped her raise the Philippine flag over the steps of City Hall as the Philippine Consulate General Choir and Filipinos at the Mayor’s balcony sang the Philippine National Anthem with pride. The ceremony was followed by a reception where the Mayor talked about the many contributions of the Filipino-American community to the development of San Francisco he thanked the community “for making San Francisco a special place to live.” Mayor Newsom also presented Consul General Sanchez with a Proclamation declaring June 12, 2006 as Philippine Heritage Day.
Consul General Sanchez spoke after the Mayor and in her remarks she gave honor to the Filipino American community in the Bay Area. “Filipinos” she said “through their hard work, integrity, entrepreneurship, have flourished and carved out a solid reputation as productive members of society.”
“In City Hall we are proud of our countrymen who are very much a part of city government,” she added.
Atty. Rodel Rodis President of the Board of Trustees of the City College of San Francisco spoke at the event and evoked the swelling of pride that all Filipino-Americans felt when he said “I saw the flag being raised and it put a lump on my throat.”
The main organizer of the event was Mr. Dennis Normandy, Chair of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee. He emphasized the growing importance of the “The Filipino-American community” which he said is unabashedly and unashamedly the tipping point in any election in San Francisco. “Our record speaks for itself. Every candidate we have backed has won an election,” he added.
Consul General Sanchez echoed Mr. Normandy’s statements and acknowledged Mayor Newsom for recognizing this fact. She thanked the Mayor “for his enlightened leadership, the Board of Supervisors, and city officials for their continued support for our community and its many projects and activities.” END.
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