Annual Parade in Manhattan Launches PH Independence Day Celebrations in the U.S. Northeast

Officers and staff of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, the Philippine Consulate General and Philippine Center New York march along Madison Avenue in celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. (Boyet Loverita Photo)

NEW YORK 15 June 2019 – The Filipino Community in the northeast United States celebrated the Philippine Independence Day Parade with festivities, cultural shows, and dances along New York’s Madison Avenue on 2 June 2019.

The annual event, touted to be the world’s largest Philippine Independence parade outside of the Philippines, was spearheaded by the Philippine Independence Day Committee Inc, with the cooperation of the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

This year, more than 120 Filipino-American groups and associations joined the parade, food fair, concerts, and cultural presentations at Madison Square Park.

The officers and staff of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, the Philippine Consulate General in New York, and the Philippine Center performed a surprise street dance presentation which earned the applause of the crowd of Filipinos and Americans gathered to watch the parade.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer and New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney joined the celebration, while New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sent a proclamation which was presented by his representative, Mr. Aries dela Cruz, to Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and Consul General Claro S. Cristobal.

A flag-raising ceremony and thanksgiving mass were also held at the Philippine Center as part of the annual cultural tradition to mark the month-long Philippine Independence Day celebrations in the U.S. northeast. END

(Left to Right) PIDCI President Antero Martinez, Honorary Grand Marshal Ireneo G. Alvaro, Grand Marshal Raul Estrellado, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Consul General Claro S. Cristobal, and Mr. Aries dela Cruz prepare to cut the ribbon to mark the start of the parade. (Boyet Loverita Photo)

Consul General Claro Cristobal (2nd from left), Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez (3rd from left), and Deputy Permanent Representative to UN Kira Christianne Danganan-Azucena (4th from left), together with Mrs. Marilou Cristobal (far left) and Mr. Michael Azucena (far right,) lead the flag-raising ceremony. (Photo by Boyet Loverita)

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.