... milestone, a legacy of innovation, respect, and an unapologetic advocacy for equality. >> representing the philippine a women's network -- and >> may i call the members of the filipino women's network to come on over? this certificate is for all of you. i think most of them are here already. when did the bodies and that the philippine population in the u.s. are filipino women, you can just imagine the contributions to the economy of america and what it is all about. i want to thank abs-cvn, the council general, and the city of san francisco, mayor lee, for this wonderful honor. thank you. [applause]

>> this year, our next honoree broke barriers -- tonight, we honor bay area fashion week. >> over 25 designers, 40 models, and the finest designs, celebrating our art means celebrating our story. it is a documented, and as our designers showcase, this year we saw the first ever bay area fashion week. the event was made at a charity fashion extravaganza, hosted in the south bay.

the san francisco bay area filipino-american communities eludes this milestone, a legacy of art, fashion, and the filipina solis ready to wear. >> here are the representatives of the bay area fashion week. [applause] >> thank you. ok, let's check out a snippet of this fashion show. >> sounds like a wonderful idea. >> please welcome the fashion.

[applause] ♪

>> please welcome our designers. [applause]

[inaudible] wasn't that breathtaking? >> very much so. >> a special thanks to our models, star choreographers, all of our makeup artists, and our designers who flew all the way from southern california to join us tonight. let's give them a warm round of applause. [applause] may we call back the consul

general? >> ok. as they say -- [speaking foreign language] the healing nature and touch of a filipino is beyond compare, and or organization has made sure that our filipino american nurses were protected and empowered. tonight, we honor the philippine nurses association of northern california. [applause] >> in our human moments of weakness, vulnerability, and need, the care provided by our filipino nurses remains unparalleled. for 50 years, the philippine nurses association of northern california has served our nurses through professional development, education,

information, and providing a support system that has given them strength and visibility. in its golden years, the philippine nurses association of northern california posted the philippine nurses association of america, bringing in hundreds of philippine nurses from all over the united states into san francisco, treasuring the legacy of our health care's industry was the finest philippine nurses. the san francisco bay area philippine american community salutes this milestone, a legacy of nurturing and a passion for life. >> representing the philippine nurses association of northern california are board members of the philippine nurses association of northern california. [applause]

[applause] >> thank you. >> much of our history is learned and much of life celebrated through the telling of stories. the documentation of our stories reveals the tapestry of our experience as a people. for the first ever celebration and gathering of hundreds of literary grades and artists, we honor the filipino american book festival. [applause]

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 si