Santa Rosa, Laguna is now sister city to Glendale, California

Glendale Mayor Daniel Brotman (4th from left), with officers of the Filipino American Business Association of Glendale, led the city council in approving a resolution declaring Santa Rosa, Laguna as a sister city | Contributed photo

Los Angeles—Santa Rosa, Laguna, a city more than 7,000 miles away across the Pacific, is now the sister city of Glendale, California.

The Filipino-American community of Glendale has made history as Santa Rosa becomes Glendale’s first sister city in the Philippines, said Editha Fuentes, former president of the Filipino American Business Association of Glendale–Greater Los Angeles County (FABAG-GLAC).

Fuentes recently made a presentation before the Glendale City Council on the connection between the two communities.

“Santa Rosa and Glendale are both visionary cities that offer an ideal balance of urban amenities and natural beauty,” she said. “Both cities are rich in history and value cultural preservation. They are dynamic, investment-friendly cities powered by economic development, tourism, and technology.”

During her presentation at a special city council meeting, Fuentes shared Santa Rosa’s tourist attractions and showed a video greeting from Santa Rosa Mayor Arleen Arcillas.

At the same meeting, the FABAG-GLAC received a proclamation from the City of Glendale recognizing Filipino American History Month.

Located about 10 miles from Los Angeles, it is the fourth largest city in LA County and is home to about 15,000 Filipinos.

The Sister City Recommendations Committee was headed by representatives of FABAG-GLAC and the Southern California Chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines, including Fuentes and fellow architects Lucille Floresta, Leilanie Panyawai, Lowynn Herrera, Delster Davide, and Filipino architects Felino Palafox, Jr. and Arthur Lising.

Joining Fuentes at the city council meeting were FABAG-GLAC president Marnie Lacsamana, Jo Solomonson, Cora Aragon Soriano, Arleen Lapid Penaflor, Renee Rasper, Lucille Floresta, Leilanie Panyawai, and Tess Domingo.

The Glendale-Santa Rosa sister cities project started in July 2022 when then-mayor Ardy Kassakhian asked Fuentes to recommend a sister city in the Philippines.

That year, FABAG-GLAC unveiled the first ever Filipino landmark in Glendale—the Filipino American Friendship monument. The 6-foot-tall marble monument is located outside the Adult Recreation Center in downtown Glendale.