SF mayor to visit Manila in February

San Francisco’s City Hall bathed in colors of Philippine Flag after Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated parts of the Visayas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SAN FRANCISCO—An official sister-city delegation headed by Mayor Edwin Lee will visit Manila on Feb. 16 for a four-day economic and cultural exchange between civic and business leaders under the auspices of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee.

The committee serves as a cultural and economic people-to-people bridge between the two cities, presenting “the best of San Francisco to the Philippines, and in turn showcasing the best of the Philippines to the San Francisco Bay Area,” according to a member of the delegation.

“Through our partnership with Manila, we are realizing the potential for our cities to stimulate environments through which our communities can creatively learn, work, and solve problems together through reciprocal exchanges and projects,” states Lee.

“We will never forget how Mayor Lee, through the City’s SFgivesback.org, encouraged the San Francisco community to support reputable agencies undertaking relief work in the affected areas,” says Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor. As the Philippines begins to implement the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda program, Mayor Lee and the City of San Francisco are again offering to share it expertise and experience in disaster preparedness, management and recovery through the planned SF Gives Back Forum.”

Arriving in Manila on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the delegation will attend the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Mayor Edwin Lee and Manila Mayor Joseph E. Estrada. Lee will receive the key to the City of Manila, the first time he will receive this type of honor.

The 60-member delegation will also attend a forum on “Doing Business in Manila and San Francisco” by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. Also included is a “Trade and Investment Opportunities Business Forum,” organized by the Asian Institute of Management, American Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Commercial Service.

“San Francisco and Manila have worked together to create an atmosphere in which economic and community development can be strengthened through the work of our sister city partnership,” explains Lee.

The delegation is scheduled to meet President Benigno S. Aquino III and tour the Malacañang (Presidential Palace) Museum. Mayor Estrada will host a reception and wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument. The University of Manila will confer an honorary degree on Mayor Lee. The visitors will tour the colonial walled city Intramuros, Bahay Tsinoy (Chinese Museum in Philippine Life), the Ayala Museum and the Metropolitan Museum.

The San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee will give an update on the fundraising donations by San Francisco Bay Area organizations. Local nonprofit beneficiaries will be there to be a part of the presentation.

Participation in the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee’s Business,

Cultural and Rebuilding Mission is by invitation only. Donations, sponsorships and participation fees will offset all costs of this mission and will not be directed towards any particular elected officials.

The San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee carries out many year-round cultural, educational, humanitarian and economic development exchanges addressing issues that are most relevant for both cities. The participation fee excludes the cost of hotel, airfare and land transportation.

For additional Information:

Carmen Colet, Chair | San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee | [email protected]

Tel: 415. 309. 4111 or 510. 494. 5305 | Fax: 510. 494. 5308 | Web: sfmscc.com