Suisun City May Get Sister City in the Philippines

Suisun City May Get Sister City in the Philippines
By Ian Thompson

SUISUN CITY - Suisun City could soon get a sister city in the Philippines after the city council warmed to the idea brought up by councilman and Filipino-American Pete Sanchez.

"It can be mutually beneficial," said Sanchez, who recently met with a delegation from the potential sister city while he was vacationing in the Philippines.

Sanchez was carrying forward the idea presented to him by local resident Aurelia Joven, whose hometown is Naguilian which is roughly a five-hour drive north of Manila on the Philippines' main island of Luzon.

Joven talked with friends who still live in Naguilian and other former residents of the town who now live in the United States before approaching Sanchez with the idea.

Sanchez and others are considering a relationship similar to one that Fairfield has with Nirasaki, Japan. The two cities exchange students and delegations visit each other.

Sanchez said Suisun City and Naguilian could have an educational exchange and exchange ideas on dealing with mutual city issues such as promoting retail projects and maintaining infrastructure.

He also said the project will be another opportunity for the Filipino-American community to get more involved, including paying the financial costs for an official sister city program.

"This all can be done with no expense to the city," said Sanchez alluding to Suisun City's efforts to keep city costs down due to tight budget times. "It won't cost the city a thing."

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.