30 July 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General in New York informed the Department of Foreign Affairs that Filipino-American groups wowed the crowd in Ocean City, New Jersey during the biggest celebration of the 4th Annual Tribute to the Philippines held from July 20 to 21.
Performers from the Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey (PCSNJ), Philippine Folk Arts Society Rondalla, Philippine Mutya Dance Co., and St. Augustine Church Choir, belonging to the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia (FECGP), came all the way to Ocean City and dazzled the crowd as they danced to Philippine traditional and modern music, and played and sang Filipino songs. A crowd favorite was PCSNJ’s youth group which performed a modern interpretation of “Tinikling” dance with hip-hop music. As a bonus, American staff of Air Circus, a store in Ocean City, also displayed their skills in playing yo-yo, the ethnic Filipino toy that has become popular outside the Philippines.
The free cultural show was held in two sets in front of the iconic Music Pier along the boardwalk to the delight of tourists passing by.
Inside the Music Pier, Philippine flags proudly hang above as Filipino food, handicrafts and other products were sold at various booths. Members of the Philippine Nurses Association of Pennsylvania and the Philippine Nurses Association of Delaware Valley, also under the FECGP, conducted free blood pressure and blood sugar tests to about 150 people who came to their booth.
The Philippine Consulate General in New York handed out brochures promoting the Philippines as travel, medical tourism and retirement destinations.
At the Ocean City Public Library, the Adventist University of the Philippines Alumni Association of NY and NJ conducted a Health Expo on July 21, attended by about 60 people who were mostly senior citizens.
The annual Tribute to the Philippines is a joint project of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the City of Ocean City.
Consul Zaldy Patron, who represented the Consulate at the event, said, “We are glad to see that this event has become bigger and better each year. Through the cultural show and by showcasing Filipino food and products, we want the residents and tourists in Ocean City to become more interested in the Philippines. Hopefully, they will also visit our country in the future.” END