‘Women and Culture’ forum features Filipina leaders in the Bay Area

Consul General Neil Ferrer (center) with the “Women and Philippine Culture: A Forum with Filipina Culture Bearers in the Bay Area” panel (from left), Rachel Lozada of The Hinabi Project and Habiness, Charm Consolacion of FEC Galing Bata Filipino Bilingual Program, Sonia Delen of the Filipino Food Movement and the UP Alumni Association of San Francisco Cultural Immersion Summer Camp, Stephanie Herrera of Kariktan Dance Company, Keesa Ocampo of the Filipino Food Movement and House of Hara and Dr. Lily Ann Villaraza of the City College of San Francisco Philippine Studies Department. Photo from San Francisco PCG

SAN FRANCISCO – A forum celebrating National Women’s Month in the Philippines and Women’s History Month in America featured a distinguished panel of Filipina community leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The “Women and Philippine Culture: A Forum with Filipina Culture Bearers in the Bay Area” was hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on March 22 at the Sentro Rizal, the Consulate’s main hub for Philippine arts and culture.

Moderated by Vice Consul and Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point Officer Adrian Baccay, the forum shone the spotlight on the invaluable role of Filipino women as Philippine culture bearers in the United States.

Deputy Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Raquel Solano delivers her closing remarks at the “Women and Philippine Culture: A Forum with Filipina Culture Bearers in the Bay Area,” held on March 22 at Sentro Rizal, Philippine Center in San Francisco. Photo from San Francisco PCG

The event is part of the Women’s Month forum series of the Consulate, including the “Women in Tech” online forum in 2021, “Women in Health” in 2022 and “Women in Government” in 2023.

Consul General Neil Ferrer delivered the keynote address, highlighting the important role of Filipino women in promoting Philippine culture in the Bay Area and beyond.

“In more ways than one, they serve as the Philippines’ cultural ambassadors who promote a deeper appreciation of the Filipino people within the context of America’s multiracial and multiethnic society,” Ferrer said.

“We recognize the multifaceted contributions of our amazing and pathbreaking Filipino women culture bearers in the Bay Area…It is through their stories and experiences that we hope we can learn how women can be at the forefront of championing Philippine heritage, indigenous knowledge systems, social practices and creative industries.”

The “Women and Philippine Culture” panel included Charm Consolacion, program director of the FEC Galing Bata Filipino Bilingual Program; Sonia Delen, president of the Filipino Food Movement, and co-founder of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco Cultural Immersion Summer Camp; Stephanie Herrera, dance director of Kariktan Dance Company; Rachel Lozada, Board member of The Hinabi Project, and owner of Habiness; Keesa Ocampo, vice president of the Filipino Food Movement, and owner of House of Hara; and Dr. Lily Ann Villaraza, chair of the Philippine Studies Department of the City College of San Francisco.

During the forum, the panel members shared their families’ migration stories and experience in the United States, their motivation for pursuing Philippine cultural promotion and advocacy, and their insights on how women can further advance visibility and representation for the Fil-Am community through arts and culture.

Deputy Consul General Raquel Solano closed the event with remarks that delve into how women best fit the role of Philippine culture bearers.

“As culture bearers, let us make sure that we pass on to future generations what is good and just, what is true and right, what is kind, nurturing and uplifting. Only then shall we be able to address the vulnerabilities and risks that women face,” said Deputy Consul General Solano.

Solano said the problems that affect women globally, including domestic violence, rape and assault, sex and labor trafficking, forced slavery, and lack of education and financial independence are “rooted in selfishness and greed, in a mindset and value system that is abusive and exploitative, evil and corrupt.”

“Our task as women, therefore, and as a society in general, is to foster a culture of peace, equality, respect, justice and understanding,” she added.

“Let us make it our responsibility to establish an environment where everyone is valued and appreciated, where everyone can participate and contribute, where everyone has a voice, and everyone listens. This is our challenge.”

The “Women and Philippine Culture” forum may be viewed on the Consulate’s Facebook page.