San Francisco Manila Sister City Committee (SFMSCC)

SFSMCC Trade & Cultural Mission to Manila

February 2010

The mission was headed by former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, dear to the Filipinos who owe him a debt of gratitude for, among others, twice saving CALPERS investment in the Philippines. For this valiant effort, then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo awarded him the Order of the Golden Heart with the Rank of Grand Cross. Delegation leaders were Hon. Marciano Paynor, Jr., Philippine Consul General to San Francisco and Dennis Normandy, Chair of SFSMCC and his wife Lynda, the event coordinator.

The 2010 Mission Theme was “Building A Greener Future”. Towards this end, a presentation at the Conservatory room of the Peninsula Hotel where the group stayed were made on “Effective Environmental Advocacy’ by Kraemer Winslow of Make Your Point Communication, “Environmental Principles in Design and Construction” Eric Golangco of Golangco Global Consulting and “Building Sustainable Future: Coral Reefs and Green Architecture” by Drs. Terrence Gosliner and Dr. Margaret G. Burke of the California Academy of Sciences. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed regarding the preservation and restoration of Intramuros with assistance with Global Heritage Fund between Secretary of Tourism Joseph Durano and John Hurd, Director of Global Heritage Fund; with participation of the Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila; a presentation at the Malacanang Heroes Hall on “Economic, Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Philippines”; a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a joint venture for clean water, renewable energy and waste management projects. A contribution towards the Campaign to Clean Up Pasig River was made and presentation to the president of the 12 millionth book donated to Philippine schools by Books For The Barrios which SFSMCC supports. All presentations were made by members of the delegation.


The Bandang Kawayan of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines entertained the group before a luncheon hosted by Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano.	With president Gloria Arroyo (a former classmate and co-teacher in Economics at Assumption College) as we walked towards the dining room of the Malacanang Palace for a luncheon hosted by the President.
With former San Francisco Mayor and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown	With Gemma Cruz Araneta, Miss Philippines and Miss International in 1964. She is the first Southeast Asian and first Filipina to win an international beauty pageant. She donated all her prize winnings to charity. A descendant of the Philippines” national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, she has been a former Secretary of Tourism. She is a writer and a TV Host.


With Eric Golangco, Sol Manaay, Elsie McAteer & Estela Barrientos at Malacanang	With other members of the group at Peninsula Hotel

A Group picture of the delegation at Malacanang Palace