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About
the Association The Long Beach-Bacolod
Sister City project was initiated by the Federation of
Filipino-American Associations, Inc. (FFAA) in the
summer of 1992. The community that the FFAA
represents, largely comprising of ethnic Filipino
origin, desires to establish another channel of
contact between the people of the Philippines and the
Americans that will reinforce the friendly bond rather
than weaken the long established friendly relationship
that seems to be fading resulting to the closure of
the American bases established in the Philippines.
While politics seems to be the commanding factor which
brought about the change in the relationship between
the U.S. and the Philippines governing powers, yet
majority of the inhabitants of these two countries
would like to foster a continuing friendly
relationship and repair the gap.
For the sake of world
peace, just after the second World War had ended, the
late President Dwight Eisenhower saw that people of
all nations fell victims of this horrible event and
maybe their sentiments could be gathered to create a
force of opinion to discourage their government in
waging hostile actions against another country. Thus,
the birth of the Sister Cities Program with which he
gave his blessings and jump-stated the movement to
start the Sister Cities Program.
The Filipino community
of Long Beach, through FFAA, brought along to the Long
Beach City Council an emissary from the Philippine
Consulate General of Los Angeles, Attorney John Orolla,
who was then the representative of the Philippine
Department of Tourism, to open a proposal about the
desire of the Long Beach community of establishing a
sister city relationship between Long Beach City where
they lived, with Bacolod City of the Philippines,
whose inhabitants are equally desirous of having a
people to people relationship.
With the help of the
past Councilman Clarence Smith, of the Long Beach City
Council approved the Sisterhood in the spring of 1992,
which the officialdom of Bacolod City headed by former
City Mayor Alfredo Montelibano, Gave also its
approval. The first delegation made a trip to Bacolod
City in 1992 to open the door for future exchanges,
headed by Paul Blanco who was appointed by the then
Long Beach City Mayor Ernie Kell.
The official signing
took place in the fall of the same year.
Mission
It is the intention of
the Long Beach-Bacolod Sister City Association to
promote and develop international goodwill and
friendship, and establish a better understanding among
the people of the world. It is not organized for the
private gain of any person or persons. its goal is to
create a rapport between its sister cities by exchange
of cultural, civic, educational, commercial and
industrial information that will be of benefit to
both.
Benefits
for Long Beach
Long Beach City is fast
becoming a multi-racial community. To a great degree,
many Filipinos have chosen to live in Long Beach. It
would bring harmony and goodwill to the people of the
community when they realize that they continue to have
a close link with their ancestors, their former
cultures and may be inspired to express their
creativity that will enrich the mixtures of the new
world culture responsive to the differing ethnic
communities living side by side in this country. With
the injection of new ideas, Long Beach may continue to
run a government responsive to the needs of its
communities and undiminished prosperity.
Benefits for the Members
The members have some
kind of identity to be proud of. They do not feel like
a stranger, unconcerned of what the community needs to
live up to. They do not feel like a lost tribe. With
the feeling of being a parts of a group with a noble
history, members tried to gain respect, knowledge and
seek achievements that will bring recognition to
themselves and reward as a good citizen. In other
words, social behavior and family upbringing will rise
to higher standard that will stimulate a good nation
building.
Major
Industries
Like in many industrial
and progressive cities of the world, Long Beach has
practically everything to offer. Aerospace industries,
computer and electronic industries, mineral oil and
its by-products, research and development by private
& public institutions, shipping and tourism, etc.
you name it and surely Long Beach City has one of
those.
Bacolod City, coming
from a developing country is a small metropolis in a
bigger island in the center of the Philippines
Archipelago. it is regarded as one of the cleanest
cities in the Philippines with the surrounding view as
serene as of a mountain side with green trees and
clean breeze to fill your mind and body. Like Long
Beach, it has a port ready for expansion, and
industries such as huge sugar centrals that refine
sugar cane juices to white granules, or brown or syrup
exported to the neighboring fields and fish ponds to
raise prawns, and other variety of sea foods for
export. Bacolod City is one major source of the
Philippine needed foreign exchange that helps the
country to trade worldwide.
Membership
Dues Structure
Anybody American or
citizen of another country who is interested can apply
for membership by filling in an application form.
Normally, people residing in or near Long Beach have
no problem as they could attend monthly meetings and
be elected as officers, thereby being able to perform
their duties without difficulties. An annual fee of
$30.00 per person is currently the admission charge.
As a non-profit organization, at the present time,
officers perform their duties without remuneration.
Exchange visit's
delegates between countries are usually first offered
to officers, members and to non-members, in this order
as the arrangement would allow. Fares at the present
time are paid by the delegates and accommodations in
the host country are normally taken care of by the
sister city visited. Sister City delegates visiting
Long Beach is feted also by the Long Beach-Bacolod
Sister City Association in reciprocal manner. It is
planned that as more fund raising activities are done,
more suitable programs will be developed.
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