Pageant kicks off NY PH Independence Day build-up

NEW YORK CITY –- An impressive array of beautiful, intelligent and talented single young women of Filipino descent 16 up to 25 years old will vie for the Diwa Ng Kalayaan (Spirit of Independence) title, the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) announced.

The contestants will be presented at the Diwa Ng Kalayaan Selection, Coronation Pageant and Gala on Saturday, April 11, from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at the Grand Ballroom of the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Newark Airport at 128 Frontage Road, Newark, New Jersey.

The 24^th annual Diwa Ng Kalayaan Pageant is the first pre-celebratory event that kicks off commemoration in New York City of the 117^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, organized, produced, directed and presented by PIDCI, which is now on it’s 13^th year, under the auspices of the Philippine Consulate General in NY.

The Diwa Ng Kalayaan competition, introduced in 1991 by PIDCI, has been a traditional part of the build up towards the Philippine Independence Day Celebration, the largest of its kind outside the Philippines.

The celebration itself features a trio of crowd-drawing major events–-the Independence Day Parade, the Street Fair (a Filipino Food Festival and Mini-expo), and the Cultural Festival, every first Sunday in June.

The reigning “Diwa Ng Kalayaan 2014” Mikaela Alexa Rada, multitalented teen from Bayonne, New Jersey enjoyed the honor of being the PIDCI Goodwill Ambassador. She will meet the new set of candidates, all community-service-oriented: Joanna Lizardo, Rianne Avendula-Philips, Jazmine Emmanuelle B. Binag, Andrea Joyce Hermoso, Katherine Campbell and Anne Marie Lim.

The winner will receive a round trip plane ticket to the Philippines with the possibility of participating in the Philippine Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines in July, 2015. Other prizes go with the highly prestigious titles.

The Philippine Independence Day Celebration in commemoration of the 117th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2015 on Madison Avenue in New York City.

Scheduled activities include the following:

• 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.: FLAG CEREMONY AND INDEPENDENCE DAY MASS at the Philippine Center, 556 Fifth Avenue.
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: STREET FAIR, 26th Street down to 24th Street and Madison Avenue.

Contact Chairpersons: Tambi Wycoco (212) 477-9005; Gheng Pingol (917) 669-0505.

• 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE, 38th Street down to 27th Street and Madison Avenue.

Contact Chairpersons: Nonoy Rafael (516) 298-8428; Ner Martinez (347) 837-5853.

• 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: CULTURAL FESTIVAL, 23rd Street and Madison Avenue.

Contact Chairperson: Elvira Reyes (551) 208-4986; Albert Diala (347) 260-8063.

Other pre-celebratory events include:

• April 25 (Saturday) – MRS. KALAYAAN (Mrs. Independence) PAGEANT

Coronation of candidates for professional women of Filipino descent in the Northeast, U.S.

1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Astoria World Manor, 25-22 Astoria Boulevard, Astoria, NY 11102-2940

Contact Chairpersons: Nonoy Rafael (516) 298-8428; Margie Wisotky (347) 661-5444.

• May 9 (Saturday) – GRAND MARSHAL GALA
  Honoring the 2015 Parade Grand Marshal: Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. (PIDCI founding president 2002)

7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Leonard’s Palazzo, 555 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, NY 11021

Contact Chairpersons: Dr. Pros Lim (347) 248-5106; Angie Molina (718) 687-0976.

The culmination of the Independence Celebration:

• June 13 (Saturday) – GRAND INDEPENDENCE BALL

7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Teaneck Marriott Ballroom at Glenpointe, 100 Frank W. Burr Boulevard, Teaneck, NJ 07666

Contact Chairperson: Ollie David (732) 499-7995.

PIDCI COMMUNITY MEETINGS at the Philippine Consulate, 556 5th Avenue between 45th-46th Streets, New York NY 10036

THURSDAYS, 7 p.m., on April 16, May 21 and June 4.

For all events, please contact PIDCI President Fe Martinez at (973) 222-0085

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