LOOK: First-ever Pinoy Christmas-themed cable car in San Francisco

Hop on board San Francisco’s first-ever Pinoy Christmas-themed cable car | Photo from San Francisco PCG/pcgsanfrancisco.org

Adding to the festive charm of parols, the much talked about #LoveThePhilippines tourism slogan can now be found in a California cable car, turning it into a moving Pinoy Christmas extravaganza.

In commemoration of its 150th anniversary, the San Francisco Municipal Railway (SF Muni) has introduced the city’s inaugural Filipino Christmas-themed cable car, infusing a dash of Filipino magic into the tradition.

While cable cars traditionally ascend the hills of San Francisco decorated with special and traditional ornaments throughout the year to honor diverse communities, cultures, and historical months, this year, SF Muni took the celebration a step further. 

They extended an invitation to the Filipino community to impart their style on Cable Car No. 17, a historic treasure dating back to 1887.

To make this dream a reality, the railway collaborated with the Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) to transform the cable car into a moving Christmas spectacle, which kicked off on Nov. 29, with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco boarding the inaugural trip. 

“I thank SF MUNI for their initiative to promote Filipino Christmas traditions in San Francisco, and I laud the FAAE under its President Al Perez and the Fil-Am Community in the Bay Area for the bayanihan spirit that they have shown to complete this project,” expressed Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer in a press release. 

This time around, alongside the slogan, other traditional Filipino Christmas decors like capiz shell and abaca parol as well as a “Maligayang Pasko” garland worked their magic on the said cable car.

But the Filipino surprise doesn’t end there; it takes a heartwarming turn with a full-circle moment as Celso Abueg, a Filipino gripman with 24 years of experience, piloted the trip. 

Abueg, who arrived in the US as an immigrant, drove the first Pinoy-themed cable car, marking a significant milestone as he plans to retire next year.

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So, if you find yourself in the City By The Bay, hop on board and experience the joy of a Pinoy Christmas on wheels as they will be enchanting passengers along the Powell Street/Market Street-Fisherman’s Wharf route until the first week of January 2024.