16 July 2013 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Members of the Filipino-American community joined the annual Fourth of July Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

The event is dubbed by the media as perhaps the most significant Fourth of July parade in the United States as it takes place in the City of Brotherly Love where America’s Founding Fathers met to draft the Declaration of Independence and the United States (US) Constitution. It also served as one of the nation’s capitals during the Revolutionary War.

In recognition of the increasing racial and cultural diversity of the City which is now the second largest US City on the East Coast and the fifth most populous in the US, the annual Fourth of July parade has seen the growing participation of many ethnic groups in commemorative events. 

This year, the Filipino-American community was once again represented by marchers and a float featuring a live performance by the Philippine Folk Arts Society Inc. (PFASI) Rondalla,   Filipino-American beauty queens, dancers and members of the NaFFAA-Pennsylvania, and the Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia Inc. (FAAPI) likewise took part in the parade. 

The float featured a banner of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” provided by the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in New York.

In previous editions of the parade, the Philadelphia-based Filipino-Americans were also joined by community groups from Washington, D.C., Maryland, and state of Virginia.

Dr. Aida Rivera, PFASI President and NaFFAA-Pennsylvania State Chair, noted the appreciation of Philadelphia locals for the participation of different communities including the Filipinos in the parade annually.  She hopes that the 2014 Parade will see an even greater Philippine presence at the parade.  END