Jersey City Marks 23rd Phil-Am Friendship Day

(L to R) Edwin Solano (Pafcom overall chairman), Senator Barbara Buono, Jersey City Mayor-Elect Steven Fulop (Honorary Grand Marshal), Cora Reyes (Grand Marshal), and Consul General Mario de Leon, Jr. (Honorary Grand Marshal) PHOTO BY ARMAN DAVID OF AJ

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey—Filipinos celebrated “Philippine-American Friendship Day” for the 23rd time on June 23 at Lincoln Park in this city with a large concentration of Filipino residents.

The annual celebration organized by the Philippine American Friendship Committee Inc. (Pafcom) has become an institution eagerly awaited each June by local officials and residents of Jersey City.

Masskara Dancers, NY Edition PHOTO BY JUNEL CORALES

PHOTO BY OGIE BAGTAS

The opening ceremonies and flag salutes to both the American and Filipino flags commenced around 11a.m. Then, the ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off the parade along West Side and Claremont Avenues.

The streets were flooded with cheerful spectators awaiting the parade of different groups, organizations, decorative floats, and diverse cultural performances.

The grand finale float was of GMA Pinoy TV with Filipino Actress Glaiza de Castro. The celebration continued at Lincoln Park where the festivities included a cultural-show, live entertainment, games, activities for all ages, various merchandise and food vendors.