Philippine Independence Day Celebration
Due to some unavoidable circumstances, this year's Dinagyang's champion the Tribu Paghidaet with the invitation of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PDIC, Inc.) was not able to push through to the Philippines Independence Day Celebration in New York City last June 1, 2008. Beverly "Pangging" Rosales, liaison officer of PDIC, Inc in Iloilo went to the Big Apple to grace the occasion and at the same time to witness the event for our next year's preparation. The City of Iloilo and the Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. have an open invitation to perform in the biggest Philippine Independence Day parade outside the Philippines.
The raising of the Philippine Flag
NEW YORK CITY - Filipino-American residents in the Tri-State area of New York- New Jersey- Greater Philadelphia-and Connecticut celebrated the 110th anniversary celebration of the proclamation of the Philippine Independence from the colonial rule of Spain with a grand parade (known always as the biggest Independence Day parade outside our country) on June 1, 2008 in New York City.
The PIDC float
With pride and glory and plenty of sunshine, the parade was held at the famed Madison Avenue from 41st St. to 27th St. amidst flag-waving and cheers of locals, out-of-towners and foreign tourists.
At the end of the parade, some 40,000 to 50,000 parade onlookers found their way to the festival site to have a taste of Filipino cuisine and watched the five-hour outdoor cultural show featuring Charice Pempengco, the girl with a powerful voice (courtesy of ABS-CBN International); singer-actor Randy Santiago; comedienne Fe de los Reyes; as well as the kid international ballroom dancing tandem of Cara Abaya Campos and Jaryd Farcon "who has had the phenomenon of Dancing with the Stars."
Ellice Flores, Baby Rosales, Nimia Lacebal, Beverly
Rosales, Consul Gen. Cecilia Rebong, Norma Rosales, and
Grand Marshall Msgr. Oscar Aquino.
The annual 14-block long parade had five mounted police and 30 members of the New York City's Finest Police Department of Filipino ancestry to pave the parade route for Rev. Monsignor Oscar Aquino, JCD, the chosen Grand Marshal for this year's celebration. He led the parade with the participants of over 100 Filipino organizations, 15 colorful floats, 17 brightly uniformed marching bands and including the Fil-Am version of Ati-atihan; a number of open cars made interesting with the reigning beauties of the Filipino-American associations riding on them. The parade's finale is PDIC Inc's. float that carried the reigning symbol of the yearly celebration of Philippine Independence- The Diwa ng Kalayaan (Spirit of Independence) and her Court namely Ms. Filipino-American; Hiyas ng Pilipinas; Bituin ng Luzon; Bituin ng Visayas; Bituin ng Mindanao; Lakambini ng PDIC, and Paraluman ng PDIC.
Ambassador Hilario and Mrs. Davide, NY Consul Gen. Cecilia
Rebong and Oscar Rebong..
The yearly celebration of the anniversary of the Philippine Independence is the sole project of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc., a non profit organization composed of Filipino-American Associations in the tri-state area as members. It has the Philippine Consul General as Honorary Adviser who spearheads the parade and graces the reviewing with dignitaries from the Philippines, past Grand Marshals and other special guests. This year's official guests were the Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations, Hon. Hilario Davide and wife; Past Marshals – Dr. Raul Sala, Dr. Alice Francisco, Loida Nicholas Lewis, Philippine Tourism New York Director Emma Ruth Yulo; VIP guests – Norma Padilla- Rosales, Beverly Pangging Rosales and sister Jean Rosales.
On my column on Monday, I will bring to you the Philippine Independence Day Ball in New York).