ASEAN Family Day in San Francisco: Spreading the spirit of 'One community, one future'
WVR - On November 22, in San Francisco, USA, for the first time, the Consulates General of Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam jointly organized the ASEAN Family Day.
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| The Consuls General (from right to left) of the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam inaugurate the ASEAN Family Day event in San Francisco, November 22. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco) |
The event marks a new development step in the efforts of the four representative offices to connect the ASEAN community on the West Coast of the United States.
More than just a cultural and social exchange, this event reflects the spirit of "One ASEAN", celebrating diversity, unity, and cooperation, the common identity of the ASEAN region as 2025 marks 30 years of Vietnam joining ASEAN and ASEAN recently expanding to welcome its eleventh member, East Timor.
The event also honors ASEAN's achievements and efforts in increasingly affirming its role on the international stage, for peace, development, and prosperity in the region and the world.
An ever-growing community space
The event took place in a warm atmosphere of ASEAN community solidarity, where families from the four Consulates General shared unique cultural features, images of their countries, traditional dishes, and many group games, including games for children.
This is a rare opportunity for the four Consulates General in San Francisco to connect the ASEAN community more deeply and strengthen the bonds that have been formed over many years.
In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized ASEAN's role in promoting the development of the entire bloc, especially in the new global context: "Today, ASEAN is the second most successful regional organization in the world with a total GDP of nearly 4 trillion USD, a population of nearly 700 million people, and comprising 11 countries. Each Southeast Asian citizen is not only a citizen of their own country but also an ASEAN citizen. We share the responsibility to build that community stronger, more sustainable, and more cohesive."
Singapore Consul General Craig Lim appreciated the significance of the event in building the ASEAN community abroad: "ASEAN Family Day shows that even living far from home, we maintain our bonds. From small interactions between families, we build a dynamic ASEAN community, supporting each other and preserving our identity."
These shares reflect the consensus of the four Consuls General as well as the collective of the four representative offices on the common spirit – considering the expatriate community an important part of the bridge for cooperation and mutual understanding.
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| Opening moments before the activities of ASEAN Family Day in San Francisco. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco) |
A gathering point enhancing ASEAN spirit
As a center of technology, innovation, and international integration, San Francisco becomes an ideal location for the ASEAN community to showcase diversity while strengthening the region's presence in the United States.
Indonesian Consul General Yophy emphasized the importance of joint activities: "When the four ASEAN Consulates General come together to organize an event, it sends a clear message: we are stronger together. This cohesion is not only for diplomats but also for families – the true cultural ambassadors of ASEAN."
On behalf of the Philippine Consul General, Deputy Consul General Maria Paz Cortes assessed this event as a new step in regional cooperation in San Francisco: "This is proof that ASEAN can connect not only through official meetings but through very close life activities. When families meet, share, and play together, we build trust – the key element of a united ASEAN."
The diplomats' speeches not only demonstrate a commitment to official cooperation but also promote an approach to connecting families of each agency: Building the ASEAN community from the very connection of each family, including the younger generation in the host country.
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| ASEAN families in San Francisco take commemorative photos after joyful hours at the event. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco) |
Strengthening common identity, aiming for larger-scale activities
This event is seen as the beginning of a series of cooperative activities between the ASEAN Consulates General on the West Coast of the United States. Through direct interactions, especially among the younger generation, families have contributed to shaping a more cohesive, flexible, and clearly defined ASEAN community.
Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized: "The most important thing is that we maintain the ASEAN spirit not only in high-level meetings but in the daily lives of each family. That is how the ASEAN identity is spread and becomes the soft power of the region."
The Consulates General agreed that further expanding joint activities from cultural exchanges, sports to common celebrations will help create a solid social infrastructure for official diplomatic cooperation. This is also a way to build a friendly, united, and rich-in-identity image of ASEAN in the eyes of the international community in San Francisco.
The first ASEAN Family Day in San Francisco concluded with the promise of families to continue organizing ASEAN community events in the future, not just as a meeting but as a step forward in the journey of building a 700-million-strong community with a common identity.
With the coordination and determination of the four Consulates General, the event affirms that no matter where we are, the spirit of "One ASEAN" remains resilient, spreading, and is the foundation for long-term cooperation in the region and the world.
(Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco)
