Date Line: New York: Philippine Independence Day Ball
The DIWA'S of PIDC
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 110th Anniversary Celebration of the Philippine Independence from the colonial rule of Spain came to a climax with a Grand Parade, known as the biggest Independence Day parade outside the Philippines. This happened last June 1, 2008 along the Big Apple's famed Madison Avenue with 40-50,000 people sharing the pride and excitement of the tri-state (New York- New Jersey- Greater Philadelphia-and Connecticut) Filipino-Americans.
Ball guests
The annual celebration headed to its usual finale, the following week Saturday after the Grand Parade which is always celebrated on the first Sunday of June, with an Independence Gala Ball, in which Filipino-Americans and their guests bejeweled the night with their most beautiful Filipiniana or stunning evening gowns whether Ballroom or Line Dancing from 8 in the evening to 1 am.
The Grand Ballroom of the Marriott La Guardia Airport Hotel was filled way over its 350-person capacity and the Ball Committee headed by Dr. Vivana Certeza-Malantic had to refuse so many others.
The night's special feature was a Broadway musical presentation of excerpts from the musical "Long Season" by a Filipino composer , Fabian Obispo, and narration by Obie Award Winner Ching Valdes- Aran.
Every year, in the Independence Ball, the committee presents a cultural program to remind the Filipino-Americans and their guests that the Philippines has a wealth of great heritage, backing up the Filipino image wherever they are.
Ball guests
This particular night, the Filipino musical heritage was celebrated by four of New York's top Filipino performing artists, Mary Jo Palencia, soprano; Anthony Lim, tenor; Katrina Saporsantos, soprano; and Rene Dalandan, pianist, who are already considered global in their talents and musical accomplishments. They delighted everyone with their repertoire of popular songs and medleys from the three geographic regions of the Philippines.
As the night was about to end , the reigning symbols of Philippine Independence Day celebration in New York, The Diwa ng Kalayaan and her Court walked the ballroom floor with touching elegance and pomp as the "Triumphant March" from the Opera "Aida" filled the room.
Ball guests
It was a beautiful night indeed!