CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Feb. 18 (PNA) — The city government forged Sunday a sisterhood agreement with the Honolulu City of Hawaii that is seen to foster closer ties in terms of business development, build stronger economic relationship and closer cultural experiences and exchanges between the two cities.
City Mayor Edwin Santiago said the agreement is beneficial to both cities and will promote the Philippines’ economic thrust to cooperate with other countries and build partnerships for the common good.
“This will further strengthen our ties with the people of Hawaii most especially the Filipinos who live there,” Santiago said during Sunday’s official visit of the 24th Trade Mission of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii (FCCH).
Santiago said that Honolulu is recognized for quality living, political stability, personal freedom, sanitation, housing, the natural environment recreation, banking facilities, availability of consumer goods, education and public services including transportation.
“Honolulu is also gifted with almost similar weather as that of the Philippines,” he noted.
On the other hand, Santiago said, the City of San Fernando is one of the country’s top performing cities in the country, with its world-renowned giant lantern and native products such as handicrafts, furniture and array of food choices which are considered within the category of Philippines’ finest.
“The ties will create employment opportunities, increase market activities and boost economic growth for both cities,” he said.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, for his part, said that the agreement is a manifestation of mutual respect, cooperation and appreciation.
Caldwell also said Honolulu is a model city because it is a major hub for international business, military defense as well as being host to a diverse East-West and Pacific culture, cuisine and tradition.
At present there are about 350,000 Filipinos of the total 970,000 population of Honolulu.
In the same occasion, the city government also conferred upon Caldwell and Philippine Consul General Julius Torres the title “Distinguished Adopted Son” of the city.
“Mayor Caldwell has shown sincere gesture of friendship, respect, cooperation and appreciation to us (San Fernando City officials) during our cultural and trade mission in Honolulu last year,” City Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin said.
Caldwell said he was elated by the honor of being an adopted son of the city as he now considers the giant lantern city his second home.
He said that he is amazed by the city’s progress and Filipino hospitality
Torres, consul general of the Philippines to Hawaii, on the other hand, was recognized for his support to the Annual Parol Festival in Hawaii that features the “Parul Sampernandu” for two consecutive years.
The two new awardees are now added to the list of honorary Fernandinos which includes Ambassador Linglingay Lacanlale (2009 Distinguished Adopted Son) and Professor Jean Cristophe Gaillard (2012 Outstanding Honorary Fernandino). (PNA)