Starting second from left, Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, San Francisco-Manila Sister Cities President Carmen Colet, Consul General Henry Bensurto, Mayor Ed Lee, Hydra Mendoza of the mayor’s staff and Filipina Women’s Network President Marily Mondejar. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
SAN FRANCISCO, California – Mayor Edwin M. Lee honored Philippine Independence Day on June 12 by raising the Philippines’ flag from the Mayor’s Balcony at City Hall.
Lee also received new Philippine Consul General Henry Bensurto, welcoming him to the city.
Members of the San Francisco-Manila Sister Cities Committee headed by Carmen Colet, as well as the consulate staff joined the flag ceremony. A reception was later held in the Mayor’s office.
The flag ceremony also signals the start of Philippine Independence celebrations by the Filipino American community in the San Francisco Bay Area. “Kalayaan 2014” is slated for Saturday, June 21, from 12 to 7:30 p.m. in Union Square, featuring “modern Fil-Am heroes” and live entertainment.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee welcomes new Consul General Henry Bensurto (left) at the Philippine Independence Day flag ceremony at the Mayor’s Balcony in City Hall.