Philippine Festival 2003 Parade downtown Washington, D.C. - 1:00 pm. EDT June 15^th
For immediate release
06/14/03 9:00 pm EDT

Festival Parade to feature 40 different Filipino community groups – June 15^th
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor
Contact: Philippine Festival 2003 Chairman, Marie Remy Cabrera 301-654-4522
Press Relations Officer, Augustus Alzona 301-530-8883, e-mail: augustus@alzona.com

Media Advisory

WHAT:

A large, colorful parade, featuring 40 Filipino organizations, will be held in downtown Washington, D.C. this Sunday, June 15, 2003. Tens of thousands of people from the mid-Atlantic region are expected to attend this annual Philippine Festival Fair and Parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. This is one of the major, free admission, community events that the Philippine Festival Committee 2003 (PFC) of the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc. (PAFC), has scheduled for the month of June 2003.

WHO:

Forty different community groups and associations from the the tri-state area will march in this year's event. Quite a diverse group of participants ranging from the Philippine American Culture and Arts Society to such groups as the St. Rose of Lima Santa Cruzan processioners, Sampaguita Club USA, Organization of Young Filipino-Americans, as well a several others too numerous to list here will be featured. This year's parade Grand Marshal is Philippine Ambassador to the U.S., Albert del Rosario, with special guest, Richard Gordon, Philippine Secretary of Tourism.

The PFC is a group of dedicated volunteers from the various Filipino, Filipino-American and mainstream communities throughout the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. This year's festival committee is chaired by Marie Remy Cabrera of the Montgomery County Philippine American Association (MCPAA) of Maryland. For more information regarding this particular event, contact Parade Chairman Ernie Cordero (703) 241-9115 or Co-Chairman Joyce Quejas-Risdon (202) 331-3950.

WHY:

This festival also coincides with the annual June 12th celebration of the independence of the Republic of the Philippines. The current global "war on terrorism", joint mutual defense treaties, and the Philippine's unconditional support of American interests abroad has further reinforced the longstanding close ties and empathy between the two countries. Filipino-Americans continue to be the fastest growing Asian Pacific American group of naturalized citizens in the America. Their growing power and influence in America was recently acknowledged at the warm reception that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo received from U.S. President George W. Bush, during her recent official State visit here.

WHEN:

Sunday, June 15, 2003. Parade starts at 1:00 pm. (Fair: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. 9am-Mass, 10am-ribbon cutting,). Rain or shine. Free admission.

WHERE:

On Pennsylvania Avenue, between 10^th and 13^th Streets N.W., downtown Washington, D.C. Various other events, many free and open to the public, occur this month, too. You may view the latest calendar information via the Philippine Festival 2003 link at www.pafc-inc.org

Press is invited.

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