from children's bedtime stories to coming-of-age novels and memoirs of the most colorful lives -- >> first and last embrace. >> hours of a stock -- ours is a story that needs to be told. [inaudible] needs to be told from generation to generation. this year, the international community saw the first ever filipino american book festival. it celebrated a richness and fusion of philippine and filipino american culture into literature, visual arts, and people. it marked the largest gathering of authors and artists of filipina heritage from around the world. the san francisco bay area filipino american community salutes this milestone, a legacy of the duration of our people's story. >> representing the filipino american book festival of the committee chair and the

committee for the event. [applause] >> thank you very much. [applause]

>> filipinos love a great party. in northern california, one organization proves this year in and year out by celebrating our heritage and culture. this year, it broke records, making it the largest festival in the region. ladies gentlemen, the filipino american art exposition. >> [inaudible] and the best of philippine cuisine with more than 100,000 filipino americans living in the bay area alone, it is no surprise that the largest philippine a festival in northern california takes place right here in san francisco. the celebration features dance, art, and a cut off so that visitors can taste, hear, smell, and see filipino culture

up close. this year, a tucson record- breaking attendance with over 70,000 patrons and spectators of the festival, making it our signature community tradition. the san francisco bay area filipino community salutes the legacy of celebrating filipino culture and heritage. >> representing the filipino american arts exposition and festival. [applause]

[applause] >> we would also like to acknowledge the founder -- not the founder, but the current president, and also commissioner of entertainment for san francisco, who could not join us tonight, but who has been an instrument of the success. [applause] through the years, the filipino american community has become not just a member but, more importantly, a partner to the city of san francisco, fostering

ties with a group of ambassadors who served as a bridge of people. tonight, we are 50 years of the san francisco manila sister cities. there's a bridge that connects the thrill of the orient to the city by the bay. it is a bridge of ambassadors, one made of people whose roots and hearts and the pacific ocean. in april 1961, the city of seven cisco formally and stated a committee under the office of the mayor to become the preeminent cultural and economic [inaudible] between san francisco and manila, developing a system that promote closer ties between the cities. this year, the san francisco manila sister city committee represents -- celebrates its 50

year, marking five decades of service to our people. the san francisco bay area filipino american community salutes this milestone, a legacy of goodwill and true filipino american pride. >> representing the san francisco manila sister city committee, are defective chairman -- our de facto chairman. [applause] >> if i may, i'd like to call up some very key members of the committee. i cannot call all 100-plus people up here, but some very key members. first filipino elected in san francisco, who has been with the sister city committee from day one, and partners in making sure that the cultural links

have to do with education. nancy and dan harrington, please join us here. they have sent 13 million books to impoverished children over the years. we thank you all for this honor. we have enjoyed tremendously the ability to link with the philippines. we have generated thousands of jobs, both in the philippines and in san francisco. we have donated thousands of dollars to various events, such as the cleanup of the river, the symphony of the philippine cultural center, and the list goes on and on. we would not have been able to do that without being partners with the philippine consulate general. [applause] and in the five trade and

cultural missions led in 1994 and 1998, 2005, 2006, 2010, one of the key posts for our entire committee and all of the various leaders, the people that head of the business circles, the political circles has always been the filipino channel, and we thank you. the most wonderful addition, the fresh blood that is going to come in and lead the sister city committee from this point on, as represented by the very beautiful and multi talented. [applause] thank you all. >> before we have them leave the

stage, i want to take this opportunity. linda and dennis have given so much heart and soul to the manila sister city. on behalf of the city and county of san francisco, we love you so much. we are broken hearted that you have stepped down, but we know that your leadership will not go away because this is where your heart is. on behalf of all of us, we will miss you terribly. but as they say, you do not retire, you rewire. that means you will be connecting back to so many of us and continuing your fabulous work, and we cannot thank you enough for so many years. for any of you who have not had the opportunity to go on a delegation, it is the most organized, amazing experience you will ever have, and behind every strong man, there's an amazing woman in linda, so thank you for everything that you do. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, once again, let's give a warm round of applause to all our honorees tonight. [applause] making a difference in the community is about bold courage and hopeful optimism. >> that is right. more and more, the filipino american community continues to build a pipeline with emerging leaders of the next generation, making sure that all that energy, wisdom, and vigorous spirit is passed on. tonight, we would like to thank all of our partners in the community. thank you so much to all of our wonderful restaurants tonight. [applause]

and we have the fabulous mango ice cream from heavenly ice cream. >> wow. thank you. >> we would also like to thank the rest of our partners, our designers, our fashion show choreographers -- don't you love them? my best new discovery. bradford, you are doing this again next year, wherever you are. a big thanks to all of our 16 models, and our appreciation always to the philippine consulate of san francisco and consul general. >> so, i think we want to introduce our performer for tonight. >> wonderful. i cannot wait. >> please join us in welcoming you to celebrity sensation and

recording artist, ms. michelle martinez. >> he can stay. good evening, everybody. how are you guys doing tonight? good? it is an honor to be here tonight. i just want to sing a couple of songs for you tonight. there we go. ♪ honey, honey i can see the stars all the way from here see the glow of the windowpane i can see the sun whenever you are near every time you touch me, i just melt away everybody asks me why i am is

smiling but i know nothing is perfect [inaudible] baby, it is you you are the ones i love you are the one i need you are the only one i see , on, baby, it is you come on, baby you put my love on top , on, baby talk, talk, talk -- top, top, top

honey, honey i can feel the wind your lips taste like a night of champagne as i kiss you again and again and again and again everybody asks me why i am is smiling out from year to year but i know nothing is perfect but it's worth it after fighting through my fears and finally you put me first baby it is you you are the one i love you are the one i need you are the only one of ic , on, baby -- come on, baby

you put my love on top come on, baby you put my love on top you put my love on top come on, baby baby, it is you you are the one i love you are the one i need you are the only one i see come on, baby, it's you you are the one who gives your all your the one i can always call when i need you make everything stop baby, you are the one that i love you are the one that i need only one ic come on, baby, it is you you are the one that gives you all the one i can always call finally, you put my love on top

♪ [applause] thank you. thank you guys so much for having me tonight. i have an album out, and i am on youtube. and my channel. i am on the internet. please check me out on my website. i have some albums and posters out there for sale as well. this next song i wanted to do -- can i have my water? this next song, i just wanted to bring it back to my roots, being a filipino. i am not very good in my tagalog, but i wanted to sing this song for you guys tonight. thank you. excuse me if i'd love any words. here we go. -- excuse me if i flub any words. here we go. this one is dedicated to you

guys. ♪

[singing in tagalog]

♪ thank you guys so much. had a great evening. thank you. >> one more time. great job. thank you so much. amazing. amazing. ok, before anything else, we want to thank our sponsors. pixel creations. thank you so much for being part

of tonight's event. we just want to tell everyone to please just continue joining -- enjoying the food. i just want to say it was an honor and pleasure hosting tonight's event with you. thank you for having me. >> likewise, and until next time -- [speaking in foreign language] [applause]

>> the right to vote allows us to vote for candidates or party and it is a significant way to have our voice heard. exactly 100 years ago, women were given the vote in california. the battle for women's suffrage was not an easy one. it took more than 70 years.

a woman could run for president in new york. >> organizing this conference, basically it modeled itself on a declaration of independence for women. it marked the beginning of the women's equality movement in the united states. >> at that time, women were banned from holding property and voting in elections. >> susan b. anthony dedicated her life to reform. >> suffrage in the middle of the 19th century accomplished one goal, it was diametrically opposed to this idea.

>> many feared it would be corrupted by politics. >> women in the 19th century had to convince male voters that having the vote would not change anything. that woman would still be devoted to the home, the family, that they would remain pure and innocent, that having the vote would not corrupt them. >> support gradually grew in state and local campaigns. >> leaders like ellen clark sgt come repeatedly stopping these meetings -- , repeatedly stopping these meetings as a politically active figure. doing everything they could to ground the campaign in

domesticity. >> despite their efforts, the link made it tough whenever voters were in the big city. a specialist in francisco. >> the problem with san francisco is that women's suffrage as an idea was associated. >> susan b. anthony joined the provision party. a deadly idea in san francisco. liquor was the foundation of the economy. and >> anything that touched on the possibility of prohibition was greatly and popular. >> the first campaign was a

great effort, but not a success. >> the war was not over. less than one decade later, a graphic protests brought new life to the movement. >> women's suffrage, the republican convention in oakland, this time it was the private sector response. 300 marched down the streets of the convention center. women were entitled to be here. >> joining together for another campaign. >> women opened a club in san

francisco. it was called the votes for women club. if she could get the shopkeepers to have lunch, she could get them to be heard literature. the lunch room was a tremendous success. >> it was the way that people thought about women willing to fight for a successful campaign. what happened was, the social transformation increase the boundary of what was possible, out word. >> there were parades and rallies, door to door candidacies, reaching every voter in the state. >> the eyes of the nation were on california in 1911, when we all voted.

it was the sixth and largest state in the nation to approve this. one decade later, we have full voting rights in the united states. helping newly enfranchised women, a new political movement was founded. >> starting in the 1920's, it was a movement created by the suffragettes moving forward to getting the right to vote. all of the suffragettes were interested in educating the new voters. >> non-partisan, not endorsing candidates >> -- endorsing

candidates, getting the right to vote and one they have their voice heard. >> the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage is taking place throughout the state. bancroft library is having an exhibit that highlights the women's suffrage movement, chronicling what happened in california, bringing women the right to vote. >> how long does this mean going on? >> the week of the 20th. people do not realize that women were allowed to vote as early as the 1920's. in the library collection we have a manuscript from the end of december, possibly longer. >>