THE green light is once again on for the Ilonggo group to join the annual Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue, New York City. But there’s more than meets the eye to the forthcoming commemoration of the 120th year since General Emilio Aguinaldo raised for the first time the Philippine flag in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
First, expect the expected on June 3: Noontime Independence Day flag-raising at the Philippine Center on 5th Avenue, kicking off the long parade along Madison Avenue, leading up to the sites of the day-to-night cultural presentations, Filipino Food Festival and Mini-Expo.
The June 3 “mistake” is intentional. Take it from the organizing group – the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) – it’s to enable our “invading” participants to come home in time for the correct June 12 date.
As already reported, the Tribu Panayanon (reigning champion of Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival) and Hubon Mangunguma (Guimaras’ Manggahan Festival) will be wowing the predominantly American audience in this year’s New York celebration.
This year, the Iloilo City government and the Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman) have partnered with the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Washington DC and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Virginia to maximize Iloilo’s exposure beyond one day, beyond one American City, through the nine-day “Iloilo City Trade Mission and Investment Forum” from June 1 to June 9.
Representing the government in the mission are Mayor Jose Espinosa III, Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia, Executive Assistant Rex Aguado and Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) head Ariel Castaneda, among others. Together with a score of participants from the private sector led by the mayor’s better half, Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, they will “bring” Iloilo City to New York City, Washington DC and Fairfax, Virginia through roadshows showcasing the creations of Ilonggo jewellers, fashion designers and property developers.
“It will be the first time that such extensive promotion of a Philippine city,” Tourism Officer Junel Divinagracia said, “will shape up in the United States.”
Americans and US-based Filipinos have been invited to participate in panel discussions aimed at enticing them to invest, work, study or retire in Iloilo City.
To wind up this column, let me disabuse the minds of our broadcast colleagues who insinuate “favoritism” over my inclusion in the delegation. When I begged of the organizers to count me in, it was with the pledge that I pay for my own plane fare. Why? Because my son lives in New York and I have not seen him for 14 years. Having hit 68 years old already, I hate to be perpetually left behind.
I was a toddler in my home province of Antique when I heard of my maternal grandmother’s three brothers had migrated to New York. Since one of them, Lolo Pet, would always send a package of goods each month to their three sisters, I imagined him living in material abundance.
One day he came home with his wife Adoracion and their only child Alma. They told us stories about successful Filipinos in New York.
Some of my cousins got “hooked.” Right after college graduation, they found ways and means to go to New York, work and retire there, too. They are still live there and have no desire of coming home to the Philippines.
I could have aspired to fly there, too, had the love bug not enticed me at age 22 to marry my fiancée. She gave me one son, who finished Nursing.
It never crossed my mind that our son would beat me to the fulfilment of my New York dream. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
