An estimated 100,000 Filipino Americans trooped to Madison Avenue on June 5 to celebrate the 113th Philippine Independence Day in song, dance and cuisine. Vice President Jejomar Binay graced the occasion along with ABS-CBN artists Jericho Rosales and Karylle.
Organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General, the annual event is considered the largest outside the Philippines.
“This year’s turnout is overwhelming, we had to request for additional officers from the New York Police Department to help us control the crowd,” said festival chairman Catherine Uy.
The foot-and-float parade that kicked off the celebration included hundreds of contingents from various civic and religious groups, alumni and nonprofit associations, and local government units. Tribu Pan-ay, the award-winning group from the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo, made a special appearance.
CBS 2 reporter Hazel Sanchez anchored the parade, introducing each contingent. When gaps in between groups took a stall, entertainer Archie D was on hand to keep the celebratory mood of the crowd going.
The float that featured Rosales, Karylle and other personalities of The Filipino Channel (TFC), rolled to a halt when hundreds of fans crossed the perimeter fence just so they could take close-up shots of their favorite celebrities. It took some time for the marshals to clear the streets and prevent any disruption to the celebration.
At the cultural stage, the show started with entertainment numbers from more than 20 local talents including mother-daughter tandem Annie Brazil and Rachel Ann Wolfe. Comics Air Tabigue and Jojo Mabolo emceed the program; celebrity jockey, DJ Riddler was impressive.
Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. welcomed the Filipinos—some of them coming all the way from Canada—and later introduced the Vice President for a brief message. PIDCI president Joji Jalandoni introduced her team and thanked the audience for their lavish support.
The highlights of the program included a soulful rendition of the medley “Isang Dugo Isang Lahi” (Heal the World) by the young voices of Michele Semana, Alyssa Schumaker, Nina Mojares, Jellyn Echon and Charisse Trinidad. “Isang Dugo” was composed and arranged by Dodgie Simon. There was a 25-minute production number of Tribu Pan-ay that boasts 30 performers. The TFC Hour featured artists Rosales, Karylle, Gelo from Barangay USA as interviewed by Balitang America’s Don Tagala and Monette Rivera of Adobo Nation. Immigration lawyer Michael Gurfinkel of Citizen Pinoy hosted.
(This article is reprinted with permission from The FilAm, a magazine for Filipinos in New York. You can also read this article at www.thefilam.net.)
In Photo: Dignitaries led by (from right) Vice President Jejomar Binay, Ambassador Jose Cuisia, and Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. (Elton Lugay)
