Opening of Filam Center in MD is delayed

July 30, 2008  --  Got something to say?
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OXON HILL, Maryland - Plans are underway to make the National Philippine Multicultural Center as the principal venue of the annual celebration of independence, according to a newsletter of Maryland Assembly Delegate Kris Valderrama..
The center, which is the old police station of Oxon Hill was recently lease-transferred by Prince George’s county to the National Philippine Cultural
Foundation, Inc. It is currently undergoing renovation and expansion.
The newsletter said the building is nearing completion and once completed, will be able to seat 1,500 people. When completed, the top of the building will have a skylight designed in the form of a “salakot,” a native Filipino wide-brimmed hat.
The newsletter said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was invited to be the guest to cut the ceremonial ribbon at the scheduled inaugural of the Multicultural center July 4, Philippine-American Friendship Day. But the recurring technical problems and cost overruns prevented the building contractors from meeting the July completion date. The building may not be finished until August or September.
During the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Center a few months ago, both Philippine Ambassador Willy C. Gaa and Prince George’s Country Executive Jack Johnson hailed the establishment of the center.
The newsletter carried Gaa’s remarks. “Establishing the Philippine Cultural Center in Prince George’s County, in my mind, marks the perfect reconciliation
between Marylanders and the Filipinos. In 1916, Millard Tydings was elected
to the Maryland House of Delegates and later became US senator. In 1934
he authored a bill granting independence to the Philippines which was then
a US territory. The Filipinos under the Philippine Commonwealth, were
considered American nationals without having to go through any naturalization
process.”
“In 1946, following the end of WWII, the US pursuant to the Tydings bill,
granted the Philippines its independence at which time, the Filipinos lost
their American nationality. Decades later, as some Filipinos opted to
become American citizens through naturalization, a Filipino-American —-David
M. Valderrama— was elected for the first time to the House of Delegates.
The cycle continued and today, the delegate seat that this Filipino-American
inherited from Tydings has been inherited in turn by his daughter, Delegate
Kris Valderrama.”
“I see this cultural center as the unfolding story of US-Philippine
relations coming to a full circle.”
The newsletter said that “With matching funds from the State, the County
and the International Chamber of Asian/African/American Business
Executives, the construction is planned in three phases:
(I)a complete renovation of the former 10,000 sq. ft. 2-level Police
building at 7500 Livingston Rd. Oxon Hill;
(II) the addition of 10,000 sq. ft. of space to accommodate the anticipated
increase of other cultural activities;
(III) will include a one-stop shopping mini-mall of and for the
multicultural communities of Prince George’s County and the Washington
region.
The newsletter also quoted Prince George’s County Executive Jack B. Johnson as saying at the groundbreaking that “the Philippine Center is a mirror of my vision on inclusion, economic development and multiculturalism. I am convinced that collectively with the various ethnicities we could build bridges and close the gaps for a stronger county, state and nation.”
“Soon, we will be turning another page in the history of Philippine
American relations as we inaugurate the opening in Prince George’s
County of the $5-million first of its kind National Philippine Multicultural
Center.
“I leave it to you as a challenge to make the seed grow; nurture and
make it a self-sufficient stand-alone center second to none in the
Nation.”


Posted by News Team | Filed Under Around DC, US News 

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