>> 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 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]