PIDCI Blog

Here’s part of an episode of Kababayan LA with a feature on Independence Day Celebrations throughout the United States. You can view it at http://www.la18.tv.

110th Philippine Independence Anniversary Commemoration
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY COUNCIL, INC.
with the cooperation of the
CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

PARADE AWARDS WINNERS TO BE PRESENTED WITH A PLAQUE AT THE INDEPENDENCE BALL, JUNE 7, 2008:

1. MOST MEANINGFUL FLOAT
(Best conceptually-designed float)

Presented to
Luisianians of the East Coast

Recipient of the Consul General’s Plaque
Consul General CECILIA B. REBONG
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK

2. MOST MEANINGFUL GROUP - THAT BEST DEPICTS OUR THEME 2008 :
“Tribute to Filipino Excelllence - Innate Knowledge, Capability and Talent”

Presented to
Philippine Forum / National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON)

Recipients of the Chairman of the Panel of Judges Plaque
Dr. Lestrino Baquiran

3.BEST PERFORMANCE AND PRESENTATION
(Best in combined categories of attendance, costume, meaningful performance)

Presented to
Phil-Am Association of Connecticut, Inc. (PAACI)

Recipient of the Founding President’s Plaque
Reuben Seguritan, ESQ

4. MOST AUTHENTIC PHILIPPINE COSTUME

Presented to
Association of Bukidnons in America

Recipient of the President’s Plaque
RAUL S. ESTRELLADO

5. LIVELIEST, MOST ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP

Presented to
Parish Line Dance Ministry

Recipient of the Parade Grand Marshal’s Plaque
REV. MSGR. OSCAR A. AQUINO, JCD

6. BEST ATTENDANCE/LARGEST CONTINGENCY

Presented to
El Shaddai Group

Recipient of the Filipino American Community Business Leader’s Plaque
Nel Castelvi - Proprietor, Perlas ng Silangan

7. GROUP FROM THE FARTHEST CITY OR STATE

Presented to
Halau Hula ‘O Hokulani Dance School (HI)

Recipient of the First Overall Chair of the Philippine Independence Day Committee Plaque
Honesto Quijano

The parade sequence in alphabetical order is now available online. Please click here to view or click here to download the word document with the marcher list. Also included is the parade participant checklist and the street grid.

The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) is playing host to many special guests and celebrities who will be participating in the 110th anniversary commemoration of Philippine Independence at the Grand Parade and cultural Program on Sunday June1, 2008 on Madison Avenue from 41st to 23rd Streets.

PIDCI 2008  Parade Grand Marshal, Reverend Monsignor Oscar A. Aquino – describes our Philippine Independence Day event as a celebration of ourselves..our good works… our capabilities and talents…; when we march… when we applaud those marching, we should be celebrating who we are now and we can achieve with our own determination, courage, perseverance, compassion and hope.

Headlining the guest list are Charice, fresh from her stint at the Oprah Winfrey show, Randy Santiago and Fe Delos Reyes – who will be riding a special Artists Float at the parade and performing at a special celebrity hour at the finale of the cultural show on Madison Avenue corner 23rd Street, is presented and sponsored by TFC/ABS-CBN International.

Kristine Johnson CBS anchor and Hazel Sanchez CBS field reporter will be introducing the parade participants as they pass the reviewing stand. Other Philippine celebrities include Dr. Vicky Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho and the Philippine Basketball Association Legends.  Dancing with the Stars Latin ballroom kids Jaryd Farcon and Cara Abaya-Campos will be joined by their siblings who are also ballroom dancers, Craig and Samantha Abaya-Campos.   The Diwa Ng Kalayaan 2008 (Spirit of Independence) Erika Pineda, and her court will be presented as the finale of the parade.

Over 90 organizations and businesses, 14 floats,10 marching and ethno-cultural bands have signed up to participate in the parade.

Adding the “fun” factor to the day at the Street Fair area, with its delectable Philippine Cuisine and products and services are Free Activities for kids!
Face-painting & Magic show by “Maritess”; Balloon Sculptures by Summer the Clown; Caricatures by Sam Villaflor; including Story-Telling, Kids Arts and Crafts.

The Cultural show will also feature pop-rock-soul/heavy-rock-groove bands; variety of young performers ranging from rappers, to R & B singers, hip-hop dancers; a country singer and a cultural presentation.  Headliners are two Filipino-Americans who have performed on Broadway,

LIZ CASASOLA is a singer/actor/producer based in NYC.  A graduate of the prestigious American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York, she has been seen in in various NY productions:  MISS SAIGON, DOGEATERS at The Public Theater, and SHOUT! The Mod Musical. She can be heard on Grammy-nominated band, Boukman Eksperyans’ upcoming album, singing “Beautiful Stranger”.  She recently held a sold-out concert at NY’s famed Crash Mansion. She is also a Producer and Managing Director for Diverse City Theater – a theater company that promotes diversity in the arts.

ALI EWOLDT, recently made her Broadway debut as Cosette in the revival of Les Miserables, a role she also played on the national tour. She has performed in Disney’s Aladdin and at Tokyo DisneySea. This summer she’ll be playing Maria in Pittsburgh CLO’s production of West Side Story. Ali graduated from Yale University with a BA in psychology.
She just performed a show called “Honor” with some wonderful Filipino castmates.

Other local artists with a growing patronage in the community include:

GOLDA,  won first place at the Youth Festival of Philippine Culture in New York (PIDC) in 2000, her winning song was “Isang Lahi, Isang Lipi” written by Vehnee Saturno and was popularized by top Filipino songbird Regine Velasquez. From  then on, she continued to be a mainstay in various concerts and performances in the tri-state area and other parts of the Eastcoast .A four-time AWIT Awardee, songwriter musician Jimmy Borja, (now based in L.A., CA) made an original album for her. She is graduating in mass communications major in broadcasting at Cal State University,  Longbeach CA.

ALFA GARCIA, “born and raised in a family of classical musicians, is anything but traditional. A trained classical musician herself, who’s talent is well served in the singer/songwriter genre (in NY/NJ), where her rich, soulful voice and lyrical insight bespeak a maturity far beyond her tender years Akin to the musical stylings of Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, and Vanessa Carlton, Alfa takes us on the journey of innocent youth learning to come of age in love, in loss, in heartache, in the hope of big dreams, and in wisdom. Beautiful and graceful, yet with an earthy bent, Alfa’s music touches lingeringly and lightly, but with deeper, thoughtful intent. ”

NOEL GAMBOA, NYC based artist and architect produces contemporary crossover music and dance with “Manila Nights” a CD/DVD album which appeals to all ages and backgrounds, for line dancing with easy to remember tunes and steps. He was driven with a personal conquest to “inject new Pinoy flavor” to our wedding and birthday parties, shows,  school and office programs  by creating contemporary Pinoy flavored music and dance so that we can show the world our rich and modern colors.

JASLEEN JALBAY, a Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano soloist with a background in musical theater and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from University of Waterloo, Canada, is looking forward to her debut performance in New York City.

Official sponsors for the 2008 Philippine Independence Day Celebration in New York are AIG, TFC, ABS-CBN International. Additional sponsors include Direct TV/Satellite Television, Krystal’s/Café 81, Western Union, HSBC, United Staffing Registry/United Home Care, UPS, and Estro Entertainment,.

For inquiries: PARADE: Raul Estrellado (President) 201-421-6187, Antero Martinez 347-837-5853, Jenny Vi Niguidula 917-455-8309. STREET FAIR Sofia Abad 347-558-3728; Mario Garcia 732-425-4907 CULTURAL PROGRAM Vivian Velasco 212-841-1646, Dr. Bernie de la Merced 973-699-1849. email: pidcinc@gmail.com. Please visit the website www.pidci.org. and visit the Fan profile on Facebook (www.facebook.com) and Friendster (www.friendster.com).

The Philippine Basketball Legends headed by Abe King, Jr.and Ruffi Ignacio will participate in an exhibition match on the eve of the Philippine Independence Day Parade in NY on May 31 6:30 pm at the Queens College Fitzgerald Gym, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing NY 11367.  Donation is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids. Expected to be at the exhibition match are Francis Arnaiz, Alberto Guidaben, Tim Coloso, Allan Caidic, Federico “ Bokyo” Lauchengco, Anthony Dasalla, Rey Lazaro, Danny Manalastas,  Marte Saldana, Manny Paner, Eric Leano, Yoyoy Villamin, Rino Salazar, Etok Lobo, Roberto Jabar,  Manny Victorino, Estoy Estrada, Oni Padilla, Peter Aguilar, Rey Lazaro and many more.  Proceeds from the exhibition match will go toward the funding of the medical missions and scholarships spearheaded by the PBA Legends.

The exhibition match is sponsored by the Sports Challenge Ministry (Philippine Inter-City Basketball of North America, New York) in cooperation with the  Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. as part of the Independence Day Celebration in New York. 

The PBA Legends are also one of  the featured guests at the Philippine Independence Day Parade in NY and will march as a contingent on Madison Avenue on June 1.

For details on the exhibition match, please call:  Jojo Corpuz 631-790-6511; Toto Egasan 201-983-7876, Fermin Tobias 718-850-5955.

For details of the Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York – please visit www.pidci.org or call Raul Estrellado, President, PIDCI 201, 421-6187; Antero Martinez 347-837-5853; Jenny Vi Niguidula 917-455-8309.

Here is the video advertisement of the Philippine Independence Day Parade that will appear on TFC. Enjoy!

If the video does not display, please visit here to watch it.

As of May 15, 2008, the confirmed parade participants are:

1 AFE-ADB New York/New Jersey
2 Aklan Association Eastern USA, Inc
3 Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association Greater NY
4 Asian Journal Publications, Inc
5 Association of Bukidnons in America
6 Association of Filipino Teachers of America
7 Association of Filipino Teachers of Eastern America (AFTEA Inc)
8 Ateneo Alumni Northeast Inc
9 Ati-Atihan International Festival
10 Bayanihan Club of Union Township, New Jersey
11 Beta Sigma Fraternity - Eastern USA
12 Cavite Association USA, Inc
13 Couples For Christ
14 Dance with the Lord
15 De La Salle Alumni Association - East
16 El Shaddai Group
17 Faluna Dafa
18 Federation of NJ
19 Fil-Am Women’s Club of New York, Inc.
20 Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FIRE)
21 Filipino American Association of Engineers, Inc. (FAAE, Inc.)
22 Filipino Arts & Music Ensemble (FAME)
23 Filipino Association of Rockland, Inc.
24 Filipino Association Stevens Tech (FAST)
25 Filipino Children’s Fund, Inc.
26 Filipino Club of La Guardia High School
27 Filipino Diocesan Apostolate Cultural Ministry a.k.a. Paaralang Pinoy
28 Filipino Intercollegiate Net working Dialogue Inc. (FIND)
29 Filipino Pastoral Ministry/Church of Our Lady of Pompeii
30 Filipino Social Club of New York, Inc.
31 Filipino-American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI)
32 Five Star Cargo, Inc.
33 GILAS (Gearing-up Internet Literacy and Access for Students)
34 Global Filipino
35 Gloria Cabrera Salon and Spa
36 Halau Hula ‘O Hokulani
37 Iloilo Society of America Foundation Inc
38 Jun Policarpio For Congress - Filipino Americans for McCain
39 KABABAIHAN -> Kapisanan ng Mga Pilipinang Rizalista, NY Tri-State
40 Kinding Sindaw
41 Knights of San Lorenzo & San Lorenzo Devotional Chapter
42 Lions Club - Aces of Queens (Jackson Heights)
43 Lions Club - Liberty of NY
44 Lions Club - NY Katipunan
45 Lions Club - NY Phil-Am
46 Lions Club - South Plainfield Fil-Am
47 Lions Club International- District 20R2
48 Luisianians of East Coast,USA
49 Nabuenos of the East Coast, USA Inc
50 National Association of Filipino Americans - NY
51 National Association of Filipino-Americans - NJ
52 NCPACA Foundation Inc
53 Northern Mindanao Association Eastern Seaboard (NORMINDA)
54 Order of the Knights of Rizal - Bergenfield
55 Order of the Knights of Rizal NY Chapter
56 Organisasyon ng mga Pinoy sa Micropower (OPM)
57 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Alumni Assoc in North America (PLMAA,NA)
58 Pangarap International Charity Foundation, Inc.
59 Pangasinan Foundation USA Inc. & Devotees of Our Lady of Manaoag
60 Parish Line Dance Ministry
61 PBA Legends USA
62 Phil Women’s Univ Alumni Association (PWUAA)
63 Phil-Am Assn. of Connecticut, Inc. (PAACI)
64 Phil-Am Association of the Bronx Inc
65 Phil-Am Communities Executive Council (PACEC)
66 Phil-Am Friendship Committee, Inc. (PAFCOM)
67 Philippine American Medical Technologists (PAMET), NY Chapter
68 Philippine Day Organizing Council (PDOC)
69 Philippine Masonic Association of America, Inc.
70 Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey, Inc.
71 Pilipino-Americans in the Construction Industry
72 Raintree Healthcare Staffing, Inc
73 San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, Inc
74 Silliman University Alumni Association NY/NJ
75 Simbang Gabi sa Katedral (SGSK)
76 Sports Challenge Ministry
77 Sta Cruz Laguna Association – East Coast Chapter
78 TANGLAW (FilAm Society of Long Island NY Inc.)
79 Tau Gamma Phi (Northeast Triskelion Inc)
80 The Phil-Am Social Club of the Hamptons
81 The Philippine-New York Junior Chamber, Inc. (Jaycees)
82 United Ilocano Association of Tidewater (UIAT)
83 United Staffing Registry
84 University of the Phil. Alumni & Friends Rondalla
85 UP Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA)
86 UST Nurses Alumni Association
87 Waray Community Association Of USA Inc.
88 Western Union

Here are videos of the young artists who will be performing at the Philippine Independence Day Celebration on June 1st!

Charice

Cara and Jaryd

Please click here for another video of Cara and Jaryd.

Ricky Lo of the Philippine Star gives a rundown of stars such as Charice who are participating in the Philippine Independence Day Celebration on June 1st. For the full article, please visit philstar.com.

There’s considerable buzz in the Philippines about the participation of the PBA Legends in the Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City.

In an article by Beth Celis for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, she lists the US-based PBA veterans who will be marching on June 1st on Madison Ave. Furthermore, three Manila-based legends — Alan Caidic, Manny Paner, and Manny Victorino will fly to the US to join the festivities.

In addition to the Manila-based legends and Abe and Ligaya Pascual, others expected to be in New York are Abe King, Abet Guidaben, Anthony Dasalla, Marte Saldana, Etok Lobo, Tim Coloso, Rino Salazar, Eric Leano, Francis Arnaiz, Bokyo Lauchengco, Rey Lazaro, Estoy Estrada, Peter Aguilar, Jun Jabar, Yoyoy Villamin, Oni Padilla and PBA Legends Foundation officials Rufino Ignacio (secretary-treasurer), Roland Abilo and Danny Manalastas. For the full article, please visit inquirer.net.