116th PH Independence Day fest in NYC set on June 1

By: 10 years ago

• Longest PH Independence Day parade outside the Philippines

• Miss World, OPM stars, other celebrities at the celebration

• Street fair, floats, stage show, grand ball

Miss World Megan Young (Photo by Rolan Gutierrez)

NEW YORK, New York — It’s all systems go for the annual Philippine Independence Day Parade, the 116^th celebration, featuring an all-day street fair and cultural festival stretching from 38^th Street to 23^rd Street and Madison Avenue, on Sunday, June 1, from 11:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The festivity is highlighted by the largest Philippine Independence Day parade outside the Philippines, hosted by the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), a nonprofit organization, which is celebrating its silver anniversary this year.

Among the stars of the celebration are: First Filipina Miss World Megan Young, who with PIDCI raised funds for the victims of super typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines; Original Philippine Music (OPM) icons Kuh Ledesma, Cecile Azarcon, Edlyn Peregrina and Ogie Alcasid; First Filipina Carnaval Queen in Brazil Bessie Badilla; Grand Marshals Drs. Emilio and Felicisima Quines—both longtime medical mission volunteers.

Nearly 200 Filipino American-related nonprofit and for profit organizations, are participating. Leading the daylong celebrations are AARP’s Asian American and Pacific Islander arm and My Shelter Foundation, which promotes solar bottle bulbs called “Liter of Light.”

Attendance is likely to peak at 100,000 people, mostly Filipinos and Filipino Americans from the New York Tri-State area, Pennsylvania, California, Canada and the Philippines.

Riding the many festive floats are PIDCI’s Goodwill Ambassadors 2014 Mrs. Kalayaan (Mrs. Independence) Josephine Vilar Rafael, an accomplished medical technologist and pianist from Long Island, New York, and 2014 Diwa ng Kalayaan (Spirit of Independence) Mikaela Alexa Rada, 16-year-old high school student from Bayonne, New Jersey, and their “court of beauty queens.” Also featured are world-renowned Filipino cultural festival live acts such as Bacolod City’s Masskara Festival, Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival and Kalibo, Aklan’s Ati-Atihan Festival.

“What started out as a small Independence Day Parade that passed by a few blocks near the Philippine Consulate on Fifth Avenue in the early ‘90s has grown into a huge annual

Bessie Badilla (Photo by MJ Suayan)

celebration along Madison Avenue,” says Fe Martinez, PIDCI’s president. “We owe that to the Filipinos’ strong family ties and genuine concern for one another, especially in times of hardship and natural disasters.”

This year’s theme is “Triumphs of the Filipino: Pride of the Philippines,” celebrating Filipinos’ capacity to persevere over adversity.

Scheduled activities include the following:

8:30 to 9:00 a.m.: Flag Ceremony And Independence Day Mass at the Philippine Center, 556 Fifth Avenue. Contact (212) 764-3749.

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Street Fair, 26^th Street down to 24^th Street and Madison Avenue.

The Street Fair is a mini-Filipino food festival and expo. Vendors will sell Filipino barbeque, halo-halo dessert, fish balls, pancit (noodles), and other native products.

Contact Chairpersons Gheng Pingol (917) 669-0505 and Jesse Arteche (908) 482-1398.

11:45 a.m.: Parade Opening Ceremony, 38^th Street and Madison Avenue

12:00 to 2:00 p.m.: Independence Day Parade, 38^th Street down to 27^th Street and Madison Avenue.

2014 Mrs. Kalayaan Josephine Rafael (Photo by Yetbo Love Rita)

The Independence Day Parade shows off some 200 contingents of marching members of Filipino American organizations interspersed with brightly colored floats and open cars. The Fire Department City of New York’s (FDNY) Phoenix Society members are joining the parade for the first time. CBS New York Reporter Hazel Sanchez and host-comedian Jojo Mabolo will serve as masters of ceremonies.

Contact Chairperson Albert Diala (347) 260-8063 and Co-Chair Ner Martinez (347) 837-5853.

2:00 to 6:00 p.m.: Cultural Festival, 23^rd Street and Madison Avenue

The annual cultural festival features local talents and performing artists from the Philippines. Singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, whose regular musical variety, comedy drama shows are broadcast on TV 5, Kuh Ledesma, Cecile Azarcon, Edlyn Peregrina, and Bessie Badilla will perform live on stage. Performing artist Sigh Robes and Jojo Mabolo will serve as emcees.

Contact Chairpersons Ner Martinez (347) 837-5853 and Vivian Velasco (917) 623-3827.

Besides the parade, street fair, and cultural festival on Sunday, June 1, PIDCI will also hold its annual Philippine Independence Day Ball on Saturday, June 7, at Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey. It will be hosted by PIDCI President Fe Martinez, Vice President Albert Diala, Secretary Antero Martinez, Treasurer Violeta McGough, Internal Auditor Annie Ortiz, General Counsel Manny Quintal, Esq, and Board Members Sofia Abad, Elvira Reyes, Vivian Velasco, Jesse Arteche, Dr. Prospero Lim, Angie Molina, Maryann Sanagustin, Olivia David, Rolly Postadan, Artistides Uy and Margie Wisotsky.

Corporate sponsors are Kapatid 5, Aksyon TV International, Solana Land, 1^st &2^ndMortgage of NJ, AARP, Greenfield Properties, SMDC, Ramar Food International, Miss World

2014 Diwa Ng Kalayaan Mikaela Alexa Rada (Photo by Velzon Velez)

Organisation, Fiesta in America, United Staffing Registry, Fritzie’s Bakeshop, Fiesta Grill, Moneygram, Doty’s Restaurant, Five Chris, New Barbecue Pit and LMBB.

Media partners include Asian Journal, Inquirer.net, Filipino Express, Filipino Reporter, Philippine Daily Mirror, TheFilAm.net, New York Balita, Fil-Am Who’s Who, OPMB Worldwide, and Philippine Star.