Long Beach : Philippines Port of Bacolod Joins List of Sister Cities
Long Beach and a port city in the Philippines have joined as sister cities to help develop student exchange programs, increased tourism and trade.
City Council members approved the relationship Tuesday night. Afterward, residents of Bacolod, a city of more than 364,000 people noted for its sugar exports, invited Long Beach officials to visit their home for a festival in October.
Paul C. Blanco, president of Long Beach’s Filipino-American Assn., said the group will host a celebration in Long Beach in July.
“Sister cities are only successful if you have people here locally who are interested,” said Councilman Clarence Smith, commending the more than 40 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the audience.
Long Beach also has similar arrangements with cities in Kenya, Korea, China, Russia, Chile and Japan.
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