ShareThisJune 2, 2010 CHICAGO (JGLi) – As Chicago’s Filipinos held a motorcade and New York’s Filipinos kicked off with their annual grand parade, Filipino Americans all across the United States mark this week’s 112th Philippine Independence Day with various types of celebration.
In Kensington, Maryland, the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc. presented Simbuyo 2010 last Saturday (June 5), commemorating Philippine Independence and celebrating Filipino Artisty at the Great Hall, Visitors Center, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, according to Bing Branigin.
The Philippine Independence 2010 Beauties of Philippine Week Committe: From left: Kinjal Mahant, Miss Mindanao, Almira Fajardo, Miss Luzon, Tina Leon, Miss Philippine Independence, Rachel Geronimo, Miss Visayas and Lauren Sheng, Miss Manila.
The KKK (Kasarinlan, Kamalayan, Kasuotan) featured All Saints Fil Am Ministry of Manassas, Virginia; Dr. Joel Ang and Sidney Boquiren, violin and piano; Allan Chan, tenor; FACC Angklung Ensemble, Tony Lambino and Butch Arroyo, Genieve Llames, piano, The Singing Diplomats, Young Adults Choir of St. Columba and Jason Ignacio, award winning dancer and choreographer, with works of Alfonso “Boy” Guinoo, Mindanao Fashion Czar.
Meanwhile, newscaster Gel Santos Relos will headline the 5th Annual People’s Ball of the Migrant Heritage Commission on June 26 (Saturday) at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., according to MHC coexecutive director Arnedo S. Valera. The cultural entertainment, featuring Armonia Latina and DJ Jojo, starts from 5:30 p.m. and lasts until 12:30 a.m. Interested parties may R.S.V.P by calling 202-631-8856 / 703-273-1196 / 202- 247-0117 or by emailing migrantheritage@ gmail.com www.migrantheritage.org.
In a message, newly posted Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim in Chicago challenged the Filipino Americans in the Midwest to “work together to maintain a strong Filipino American community. Let us renew the drive for national development with a determination that peace, prosperity and continued progress will touch the life of every Filipino.”
In her farewell message for this year’s theme: Kalayaan 2010: Tagumpay ng Bayan released by the Philippine Consulate, outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo thanked “overseas Filipinos, for your demonstrated commitment to help uphold, protect and promote our Filipino heritage. I am confident that you will continue to do your part in contributing to the full development of your motherland.”
Three of four groups celebrating Philippine Independence event in Chicago, namely: Philippine Independence Week (PWC), Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) and Kalayaan, came together to start a motorcade last Sunday morning (June 6) from Lake Shore Drive and Foster Avenue moving westward to Labagh Woods Forest Preserve, where the community members held a picnic.
There, they attended mass, held inter-faith vesper service as not all participants are Catholics, presented some entertainment, including SDA Singing Group, line dancing, raffle & giveaways, sporting events and networking. On Friday, June 11, a huge Philippine flag will be unfurled and raised at the Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.
At night, Kalayaan’s executive chairperson Ronnie Cascolan will host a coronation and gala dinner ball at the Grand Ball of Hyatt Regency O’Hare at Rosemont, Illinois.
The following night, Saturday, June 12, Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) executive chair Joy Manuel will host a coronation and gala dinner ball also at the Grand Ballroom of Hyatt Regency O’Hare at Rosemont. It will feature Beauty Queen chair, Cora Gumila’s Mrs. Philippines PIWC ’10, Eden Olarte; Little Miss Illinois, Serena Escalona; Miss Illinois, Sarah Crisostomo; Mrs. Illinois, Mayumi Hammer; Miss Chicago, Kayvee Divinagracia; Mrs. Chicago, Nelida Jayme.
MAYOR DALEY’S CITIZEN’S AWARD. Community leader, Ms. Thelma Fuentes received her Citizen’s Award from Mr. Gene Lee of the Chicago Mayor’s office at the Mayor’s Reception on the occasion of Philippine Independence celebration.
Also on Saturday, June 12, Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago’s Kasarinlan will hold in the Rizal Center in Chicago the showing of the “Pearl of the Orient Seas” video from the Philippine Department of Tourism in Chicago, showcasing and promoting the beauty of the Philippines; presentation of musical talents by young Filipino Americans; art exhibit by local Filipino painters and artists; exhibits of Philippine artifacts donated by an American, who lived in the Philippines for many years, and a masterful exhibit of wit and talent called “Balagtasan” (poetic debate) written by prominent members of the Filipino community.
Meanwhile, in New York City, over 150 Filipino-American and immigrant members of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and other organizations turned the 112th Philippine Independence into a march for social justice as they pounded the streets of New York City last June 6, Sunday afternoon. They also demanded genuine change for Filipinos in the Philippines.
NAFCON said it participated in the Philippine Independence Day Parade with thousands of other Filipinos, not only to celebrate the independence of the Philippines from Spain, but also to raise awareness on the current situation of Filipinos in the Philippines and in the U.S.
During the parade, member and allied organizations of NAFCON including Philippine Forum New York, Philippine Forum New Jersey, KABALIKAT: Domestic Workers’ Support Network, Kappa Pi (Kapatirang Pilipino) Fraternity, Young Educators for Health and Empowerment of the Youth (YEHEY), American Pinoy Organization of the Youth (APOY of the Hudson Community County College), the Sentosa 27++ nurses, Anakbayan NY/NJ, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) and New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), chanted in unity, “Pagbabago! Ipatupad! Tunay na Repormang Agraryo! Ipatupad (Change! Enforce it! Genuine Land Reform! Enforce it!)”, “We are people! We are not illegal!”, “Shut Sentosa! Shut down Sentosa Now!” and “Prosecute, prosecute, GMA! Singilin, singilin, pagbayarin! (Charge her, charge her, let her pay!)”
Even with a variety of issues in the community, the member organizations of NAFCON marched and united together against these problems. Their joint solidarity was symbolically represented with a “Bahay Kubo” on the backs of different members of different organizations to show the Bayanihan spirit—when community members come together to help out in the worst of times. Behind the bahay kubo is the sun symbolizing the Filipinos’ vision for change within the Philippine government with the ushering in of the new leadership. Other props were produced such as the mascot of the outgoing Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wearing an orange prisoner’s shirt and handcuffs by the youth of Anakbayan New York/New Jersey.
“At a time when Noynoy Aquino, the son of President Cory Aquino, is the new president, genuine agrarian reform is due and needs to happen. As Filipinos abroad, we must also stay vigilant against such laws like Arizona’s SB1070 that will legalize racial profiling and continue to police our communities. We must take a stand before it gets worse,” said Rico Foz, NAFCON Executive Vice President.
Kababayans (fellow Filipinos) who watched the parade cheered, raised fists and chanted along with the NAFCON contingent and the two other major Filipino alliances with member organizations all over the US — BAYAN USA and GABRIELA USA — as they marched through Madison Avenue. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)