Over 10,000 Pinoys, Americans join 'pistahan' in San Francisco

Some 10,000 people attended this year’s annual “Pistahan Parade and Festival" in the Bay Area in San Francisco (California) in the United States on August 13 and 14. The theme of this year’s parade was the 150th birth anniversary of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. “The estimated visitor turnout of the two-day event was about 10,000, making Pistahan an institutional annual event looked forward to by members of the Filipino-American community and the mainstream public," the DFA said in a news release.

The DFA said the event gave the Fil-Ams a chance to reconnect with their roots and allow them to appreciate their rich heritage. “Pistahan organizers noted the number of participants and concluded that this parade was the biggest in terms of participation since the festival was established," the DFA noted. Parade around downtown San Francisco The parade kicked off the celebration on August 13, passing through several blocks of downtown San Francisco as well as its central thoroughfare Market Street. A big Philippine flag hand-carried by “Pistahan" Filipino-American youth volunteers led the parade. “The huge Philippine flag was the legacy gift of Consul General and Mrs. Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. as last year’s Hermano and Hermana Mayor, which from then on the organizers intend to display and serve as a traditional component of the parade," the DFA said. Heading the parade contingents was the Consulate’s float that was decorated with giant pictures of Philippine natural resource wonders and heritage sites, like the Puerto Princesa underground river caves, and endemic species, such as the tarsier and the Philippine eagle. Consulate members also distributed flyers showcasing the Philippines’ rich natural resource heritage, citing it to be one of the world’s centers for biodiversity. The flyers also highlighted the Consulate’s partnership with the California Academy Sciences and their endeavors such as their recent scientific research and educational expedition to the Philippines. “The flyers’ core message called on all Filipinos to appreciate this gift and asked everyone to be (eco) heroes and help protect, and save this patrimony," the DFA said. The Consulate members also distributed promotional flyers on how to vote online for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World." Following the Consulate’s float was a decorated antique convertible, with posters promoting the passage of “SAVE Our Industries Act Bill." Cultural presentations Meanwhile, the Yerba Buena Gardens, venue of the two-day festival, was once more the site of nearly a hundred booths, several pavilions and performance stages. It had been the traditional staging area for the Pistahan from the days of its conception in view of Yerba Buena’s mission to showcase the Bay Area’s cultural diversity through art. The DOT’s online “Pinoy Homecoming" registration featured a raffle draw with winners to get two free tickets to the Philippines in cooperation with partner sponsors. “They all once more acknowledged the significant contributions of Filipino-Americans to the growth and development of San Francisco playing an important role in the city’s vitality and the richness of its diverse and multicultural communities," the DFA said. - VVP, GMA News