WATCH: Philippine Independence Day Gala, June 12, San Francisco City Hall
SAN FRANCISCO – City Hall opened Philippine Independence Day celebrations with a Gala dinner in one of its halls on June 12, with some 400 guests attending dressed to the nines.
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Henry Bensurto, Jr. and KalayaanSF President Conrado Calalang did the official welcome followed by congratulatory remarks from San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Education Advisor for the City and County of San Francisco Hydra Mendoza-McDonnell and California Assemblymember David Chiu.
The pre-dinner program featured a fashion show at the City Hall Rotunda, featuring formal dress creations by Anthony Cruz Legarda, followed by the traditional rigodon de honor choreographed by Johnny Veloso and performed by Consul General Bensurto with Mrs. Ann Mariza Bensurto, Colma Mayor Joanne del Rosario, Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon Ascalon, Consul Reginald Bernabe, Philippine American Press Club President Esther Chavez, Col. Antonio Mendoza and community leader Wendy Andong.
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Providing musical entertainment during the sumptuous dinner were pianist Tateng Katindig, cellist Mathew John Ignacio and Broadway actress Joan Almedilla. After-dinner dancing back at the Rotunda capped the evening.
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