Philippine Consulate Joins the Filipino American Community in Honoring Outstanding Manongs and Manangs
Back Row: (L-R) Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, Joel Garcia (son of Dr. Jorge Garcia), Reuben Seguritan, Robert Ragsac, Gloria Caoile, South San Francisco Councilmember Flor Nicolas, Maria Banatao, and Mona Lisa Yuchengco. Front Row: (L-R) Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo, Amy Agbayani, Cynthia Bonta, Michael Dadap, and Dado Banatao (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO 03 September 2025 — Philippine Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer joined members of the Filipino American community across the Bay Area and the United States in honoring outstanding Manongs and Manangs during the event, “Building Communities: A Tribute to our Manongs and Manangs 2025”, organized by Positively Filipino, led by Ms. Mona Lisa Yuchengco, in partnership with The Filipino Story, on 24 August 2025 at the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Public Library.
California Attorney-General Rob Bonta, Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo, South San Francisco Councilmember Buenaflor Nicolas also graced the occasion, together with other Filipino American community leaders from San Francisco.
The ceremony honored ten (10) outstanding Filipino American trailblazers, whose life’s work paved the way for the Filipino American community in the U.S. and whose legacies continue to inspire.
This year’s honorees are the following outstanding individuals, each of whom has excelled in their respective fields and brought pride to Filipino heritage:
- Amy Agbayani, PhD, Civil Rights Trailblazer and Educator (Hawaii)
- Diosdado Banatao, Technology Developer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Venture Capitalist (California)
- Cynthia Bonta, Community Activist and Civil Rights Advocate (California)
- Gloria Caoile, Labor Rights Fighter and Community Leader (Nevada)
- Michael Dadap, Guitarist, Composer, Conductor, and Filipino Folk Art Advocate (New York)
- Jorge Garcia, Heart Surgeon, Cardiologist, Hospital Founder (Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC)), and Author (Washington D.C. and Manila)
- Jon Melegrito, Community Activist and Writer (Maryland)
- Linda Nietes-Little, Cultural Gatekeeper and Entrepreneur (California)
- Robert Ragsac, Retired Aerospace Engineer and FilAm History Chronicler (California)
- Reuben Seguritan, Immigration Lawyer, Community Leader, and Author (New York)
The Manongs and Manangs accepted their well-deserved awards with utmost gratitude. Each of them recounted stories of struggles and successes, relived their humble past, and shared their heartwarming and inspiring experiences
During the brief reception, Consul General Ferrer conveyed his gratitude and respect to the Manongs and Manangs and recognized their remarkable contributions to the community.
According to Consul General Ferrer: “We owe the high regard and positive image that Filipinos and Filipino Americans enjoy today to the pioneering Manongs and Manangs. Through their hard work, sacrifices, and unyielding spirit, they opened doors of opportunity and laid the foundations for Filipinos across generations. Their courage in facing discrimination, their resilience in their fields of expertise and advocacies, and their commitment to community have become the pillars upon which we continue to build. Today, as we celebrate our progress and achievements, we honor them and recognize that the strength of our community is rooted in their struggles and triumphs”. END
Consul General Ferrer delivers brief speech honoring the outstanding Manongs and Manangs during the reception (San Francisco PCG photo)
California Attorney General Rob Bonta congratulating and honoring his mother, Cynthia Bonta (leftmost), for her remarkable achievements and for being both his role model and inspiration (San Francisco PCG photo)
One of the honorees – Mr. Michael Dadap (with guitar) took center stage for an intermission number with the singer, Ms. Jean Judith Zeta Javier-Tiu (San Francisco PCG photo)
From L-R; Front Row: Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Mr. Michael Dadap (honoree), Ms. Mona Lisa Yuchengco of Positively Filipino, Madam Miriam Ferrer; Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, Mr. Robert Ragsac (honoree),Consul Marc Benigno, Vice Consul Glaiza Quarteros. Back row: Ms. Anne Estoya and Vice Consul Hannah Go (San Francisco PCG photo)
For more information, visit http://pcgsanfrancisco.org, https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/ or https://www.instagram.com/phlinsf/.
