SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and its partner government agencies, led by Consul General Neil Ferrer, showed its full support to the Filipino American Community in the Bay Area for the 31st annual Pistahan Parade and Festival, held in downtown San Francisco on August 10-11, 2024.
During the pre-parade program at the San Francisco Civic Center on 10 August 2024, Consul General Ferrer commended the Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) and the Filipino American Community for the 31st year of the Pistahan.
“I thank Al Perez of the Filipino American Arts Exposition, and everyone behind Pistahan – from the sponsors, donors and volunteers, to the parade contingents, festival exhibitors and performers – for their invaluable contributions as ‘citizen ambassadors’ of Filipino culture here in the United States,” Consul General Ferrer said.
In line with the 2024 Pistahan’s theme “Embracing Our Bayanihan Spirit,” Consul General Ferrer said: “I invite everyone to join the movement for a New Philippines or Bagong Pilipinas. It is a call for transformation: The transformation of our idea of being a Filipino; the transformation of the way we present ourselves to each other and to the rest of the world; and the transformation of our governance, economy, and society.”
“May we all work together towards cooperation and unity within the Filipino American community… In empowering each other and realizing our dreams for our community and our home country, we can truly leave behind a Bagong Pilipinas that our children and grandchildren can be proud of,” Consul General Ferrer added.
The Consulate, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Office in San Francisco, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Silicon Valley, and the Philippine Center Management Board joined the parade on Market Street – downtown San Francisco’s premier thoroughfare – to the tune of the DOT’s Bisita, Be My Guest campaign jingles.
The two-day outdoor festival at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens featured specially curated pavilions that hosted booths and events on Philippine arts, dances, literature, fashion, sports and martial arts, food, and innovation, as well as kiosks by Filipino American organizations that offer services and linkages to the public.
As one of the festival exhibitors, the Consulate ran a booth where the public could inquire about its passport and consular services, as well as travel packages from the DOT and trade information from the PTIC.
The Consulate also conducted a special Overseas Voting Registration during the two-day festival, affording Filipino citizens the opportunity to vote for the upcoming Philippine National Elections in 2025.
Fil-Am retired White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford served as the Pistahan Parade’s Celebrity Grand Marshal.
For her remarkable career which spanned almost three decades and five U.S. presidents, which included her role in the welcome dinner for world leaders during the 2023 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in San Francisco, Supervisor Safai authored a proclamation declaring August 10, 2024 as “Cristeta Comerford Day” in San Francisco.
San Francisco PCG photos
Fil-Am South San Francisco Councilmembers Buenaflor Nicolas and Mark Nagales served as the parade’s Community Grand Marshals, while Fil-Am LGBTQ+ activist Tita Aida became Pistahan’s first-ever transgender Hermana Mayor.
The Pistahan Parade and Festival was first held as part of the opening of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens and Center for the Arts in August 1993. The FAAE and the Filipino Arts and Cinema International (FACINE) respectively staged the Pistahan and the then-Filipino American Film & Video Festival (now known as the Filipino International Cine Festival).
