Fil-Am Community Celebrates 28th PH-American Friendship Festival in Jersey City
The Philippine Consulate General New York, led by Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate, joined the 28th annual grand parade and festival organized by the Philippine American Friendship Committee Inc. in Jersey City on 24 June 2018. (Boyet Loverita photo)
NEW YORK 04 July 2018 – The Philippine Consulate General New York, led by Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate, joined more than 80 Filipino-American community organizations participating in the 28th annual grand parade and festival last 24 June 2018.
The parade and cultural show is a traditional event organized by the Philippine American Friendship Committee Inc, (PAFCOM), which is headed this year by Lito Pernia.
The day started with a mass at Our Lady of Victories Church in Jersey City, followed by the grand parade from West Side Avenue to Lincoln Park.
Many Filipino Community organizations paraded proudly in the colorful and festive formal Filipino attire, while others wore traditional attire representing various regions in the Philippines.
Parade highlights included the Sinulog street performance of the members of the Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity (C.E.B.U), which garnered the Best Costume, Most Symbolic, and Best Contingent awards.
Officials from Jersey City led by Mayor Steven Fulop graced the event. Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro was the parade’s Grand Marshall, along with Honorary Grand Marshall Mrs. Eleanor De Leon, wife of former Ambassador and Consul General Mario L. De Leon Jr. Bergenfield Councilman Salvador Deauna, and Mahwah Coulcilman Jonathan Wong, both Filipino-Americans, also joined the parade.
Jersey City is home to about 16,000 Filipino-Americans. Along the city’s Westside Avenue are various restaurants, stores, and establishments owned or operated by Filipino-Americans. Filipinos have been acknowledged by the Jersey City Mayor as prime movers of Jersey City’s economic activities on many occasions.
In his remarks, Jersey City Mayor Fulop cited the involvement and great service of the Filipino-American community in Jersey City.
Deputy Consul General Tate thanked the PAFCOM for organizing the parade and festival, which he said highlighted Philippine culture and identity, and manifested the unity and creativity of the Filipino people.
Former Philippine Consul General in New York and current DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Administration Officer-in-Charge Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega, who was in New York City in an official capacity, participated in the parade.
The whole-day affair, which was attended by around 20,000 people, concluded with a cultural festival graced by many Filipino and Filipino-American talents from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and included Filipina actress Kim Chiu. END
Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate acknowledges the leadership of the Philippine-American Friendship Committee, Inc. in organizing the 28th annual grand parade and festival in Jersey City on 24 June 2018. (New York PCG photo)
Former Consulate General Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon De Vega participates in the parade. (Boyet Loverita photo)
Sinulog was performed by the members of the Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity (C.E.B.U) which garnered the Best Costume, Most Symbolic and Best Contingent awards during the 28th annual grand parade and festival in Jersey City on 24 June 2018. (Juliet Payabyab photo)
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.