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RP culture takes DC center stage

May 30, 2008

Filipino culture takes center stage along historic Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. when the annual Philippine festival fair and parade opens at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 1.
A fiesta atmosphere displaying and showcasing the rich and diverse culture of Filipinos will prevail at the opening of the fair. This will feature exotic Philippine cuisine, colorful handicrafts, folk dances, music, and family-oriented games for people of all ages. And people will have a chance to partake of Filipino food and drinks and to scrutinize the exquisite handicrafts that will be exhibited.
In the afternoon there will be a parade of participants wearing colorful costumes and displaying vignettes of Filipino culture between 3rd and 4th streets on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The festival, annually sponsored by the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc., coincides with the commemoration of Philippine Independence Day on June 12. In charge of this year’s festival is the Ilocano Society of America chaired by Mrs. Aida Bacarra..
On June 2 to 13, Filipino American artists will open the art show Brown Strokes on a White Canvas which will feature Filipino American artists in the Washington D.C. area. Opening reception will be held at the Philippine embassy from 6 to 8 p.m.
The annual gala ball which has been described as an “evening of elegance” at the Marriott Crystal Gateway on 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington, Virginia, will be held on June 7. The gala crowd will be made up of members of the Filipino community with special guests from the diplomatic corps, federal, state and local governments, according to the festival press release. It will feature cultural presentations, entertainment and dancing to a live band. Tickets: $80.00 per person. Contacts are Aida Bacarra: 301-530-7819 and Becky Pagsibigan: 703-759-6106
The Filipino American Youth Festival will be held on June 21. It will be a fun-packed day featuring sports (basketball, track, soccer, badminton and tennis), Philippine Games, workshop on folk dancing, hip-hop, arnis/eskrima martial arts, cultural dialogue, live musical performances, and many more. Venue for the festival is the Bishop O’Connell High School, 6600 Little Falls Road in Arlington. VA 22213,
Contacts are Ed Tiong: 703-403-5624; Luz Tatlonghari: 571-331-1085; Gerry Llames: 703-231-2623 and website: www.filamyouth.com
A separate tennis tournament will be held June 14 (8a.m.-5 p.m.) – June 15 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the Jefferson District Park 7900 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042 . Contact: Ed Tiong 703-403-5624; Danny Francia 301-642-1521. www.filamtennis.com The championship will be held at the Community Picnic Sportsfest on June 29 at the Tucker Road Recreation and Sports Center, Fort Washington, Maryland.
Contacts are Art Caliguiran 703-868-6342; Paul Lozano 240-423-3504 and for volleyball John Cabrera 240-401-9138 , Joe Fernandez/: 703-/819-5270
There will be a Philippine Festival Committee raffle with two first prizes: Roundtrip ticket to the Philippines and two Second Prizes: Roundtrip ticket to Continental USA.
Ticket is $5.00. Contact: Moks Laureles: 202-957-1620
MANILA = President Arroyo has ordered the holding of an “uncommon celebration” of the Philippines’ 110th independence day.
“The fitting way to honor the sacrifices of our heroes is not by words
alone but through deeds that give flesh to their vision,” she said.
She ordered members of her Cabinet to “match the traditional flag-raising, wreath-laying” activities to celebrate the Filipinos’ independence from the Spanish colonial rule 110 years ago with “government programs.”
Aside from the traditional flag-raising and wreath-laying activities,
and the President’s Independence Day statement, public service programs
will “showcase what the current generation is doing to advance the
ideals of our forefathers.”
The celebration of the 110th Independence Day will not be limited to the
Rizal Park, where the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was executed by the
Spanish rulers of his time.
Similar celebrations will be held in Kawit, Cavite; Malolos, Bulacan;
Monumento in Caloocan; Canodn, Ilocos Sur; Batanes; La Trinidad in
Benguet, Pamapanga, Tarlac;Pugad Lawin in Novaliches, Quezon City;
Calamba, Laguna; Mabini House; Batangas; Bicol; Bacolod; Iloilo; Cebu;
Zamboanga City; Cagayan de Oro City; Davao City; Pikit, North Cotabato;
Surigao City; and in the Muslim Autonomous Region in Mindanao (ARMM).
Among the government’s programs and projects that will be showcased as
part of the Independence Day celebrations are livelihood assistance
projects, housing projects, healthcare programs, feeding programs for
school children, food security, distribution of Conditional Cash
Transfer Cards , education programs, care for the environment, energy
independence thrusts, among other pro-poor services.
Vice President Noli de Castro will lead the Kawit, Cavite celebrations
to showcase government’s housing programs, while Agriculture Secretary
Arthur Yap will lead a multi-town FIELDS (fertilizer, irrigation,
education and training, loans, dryers and other post-harvest facilities,
seeds) caravan from Malolos, Bulacan to San Isidro in Nueva Ecija.
In Pugad Lawin, anti-poverty programs will be showcased with a caravan
and the distribution of conditional Cash Transfer cards. At the Mabini
House in Batangas, education will be the theme of the celebration.
In Calamba, Laguna, the theme will be environment with a caravan for
Laguna de Bay cleanup and tree planting activities at Mt. Makiling.
In the Bicol Region, the theme of the June 12 event will center on
tourism. A caravan showcasing the country’s natural beauty will also be
held.
In Bacolod City, energy independence will take center stage, with a
caravan showcasing government’s biofuel projects.
Training vouchers will be distributed in Iloilo City while health
programs will be showcased in Cebu City.
Pro-poor services in Northern Samar and Dinagat Island, social services
for Lumads in Davao City and distribution of agrarian reform community
projects in ARMM will highlight the Independence Day activities.

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