Med mission leaders to lead largest Independence Day fest outside PH

While singing Christmas carols, Drs. Felicisima and Emilio Quines (center-right) are flanked by Philippine Independence Day Parade former (1997) Overall Chair Nelia Ferrette, chairman of the 2014 Grand Marshal Search Committee Olivia David and PIDCI Treasurer Violeta McGough. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ Rolan Gutierrez

NEW YORK—Philippine Medical Association of America (PMAA) presidents and longterm medical mission volunteers Drs. Emilio and Felicisima Quines were named grand marshals of next year’s festive Philippine Independence Day parade.

Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), which works year-round for the biggest Philippine Independence Day parade outside of the Philippines—held first Sunday of June along Madison Avenue—announced that the Quineses stood out in the Filipino-American community during the month-long public nomination process.

“I first thought that the search process could be pretty daunting, but it turned out to be pretty easy, especially when the nomination papers of Drs. Quines reached my desk,” said Olivia David, chairman of the 2014 Grand Marshal Search Committee.

The Independence Day Parade is accompanied by an all-day street fair and cultural festival, attended by about 100,000 Filipinos from the New York Tri-State area, Pennsylvania and visitors from neighboring states and California, and Canada.

PIDCI President Fe Martinez, former (1997) Overall Chair Nelia Ferrette, Philippine Consul General to New York Mario de Leon, Jr, who is also an honorary adviser, and current PIDCI board members, officially welcomed the new grand marshals to PIDCI during an intimate dinner reception held at the consul’s residence in the Upper East Side December 13.

“I’ve known the Quineses for 25 years,” said Ferrette. “They were then presidents of PMAA.  I remember they both showed strong leadership during the medical and dental mission in Cabanatuan City.  Both have warm personalities and giving nature; they are philanthropists who helped contribute to the success of many organizations,”

The Independence Day Parade Grand Marshal is one of the highest honors bestowed by PIDCI annually to an individual (or a couple). The search recognizes an exceptionally outstanding person (or a couple) whose contributions have positively impacted the local community and the greater community as well.

Besides organizing and promoting the parade, street fair and cultural festival on June 1, the new grand marshals are also expected to take part in various pre-celebratory events that will lead up to the Philippine Independence Day celebrations namely: Presentation of Candidates for Diwa ng Kalayaan and Mrs. Kalayaan  (February 15), Grand Marshal Gala (March 15), Mrs. Kalayaan Pageant (April 12), Diwa ng Kalayaan Pageant (May 3) and culminating with the Independence Ball (June 7).

Dr. “Boy” Quines, together with his wife, Fely, has accepted the challenge and said, “We belong to the medical profession. We’re trained as physicians and that’s what we do best. So we offer and volunteer our best to do the most good, to serve our community in particular, and serve humanity in general.”

The Quineses have been serving as medical surgical volunteers in locations from Abra to Zamboanga, covering tribal and underserved areas with the U.S.-based PMAA, Association of Philippine Physicians in New York (APPNY) and various humanitarian projects with local volunteers since the early ‘90s.

“During our separate terms as presidents of the PMAA, we were intertwined with adversities, calamities and disasters. But we bounced back,” Dr. Boy Quines said.

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