Annual Parade in Manhattan Launches Philippine Independence Day Celebrations in the US Northeast

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

New York – The Philippine Independence Day Parade was successfully held with festivities, cultural shows and dances along New York’s Madison Avenue on 2 June 2019. 

(L-R) 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. (Photo by Boyet Loverita)

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. (PIDCI), with the cooperation of the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

Officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN during the Philippine Independence day flag-raising ceremony. (Photo by Boyet Loverita)

This year, more than 120 Fil-Am groups and associations joined the parade and food fair which started before noon at 38th St. and lasted until late afternoon with concerts and cultural presentations at Madison Square Park. 

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)

The officers and staff of the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN, Philippine Consulate General, and the Philippine Center joined the parade. They performed a surprise street dance presentation which earned the applause of the crowd of Filipinos and Americans gathered to watch the parade.

US Representative Carolyn Maloney (L) and Consul General Claro Cristobal (R) during the Philippine Independence Day parade 2019. (Photo by Marivir Montebon)

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 Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and Consul General Claro S. Cristobal.

Rev. Fr. Patrick Longalong officiates the Thanksgiving Mass at the Philippine Center New York’s Kalayaan Hall. (Photo by Boyet Loverita)

Before the parade, a flag-raising ceremony and thanksgiving mass were held at the Philippine Center as part of the annual cultural tradition to mark the month-long Philippine Independence Day celebrations in the US northeast.


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