Pinoys in New York celebrate 124th Philippine Independence Day

NEW YORK - For the first time in two years since the COVID-19 pandemic started, Filipinos were able to celebrate Philippine Independence Day with a parade in New York City.

Thousands of Filipinos trooped to Manhattan to mark the 124th Independence Day and participate in one of the largest parades of Pinoys in the US amid the pandemic.

A stretch of Madison Avenue was closed as members of 121 Filipino community organizations in the US joined the celebration.

The event was organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) a week before the actual Independence Day on June 12.

GMA Pinoy TV and former Eat Bulaga host Ruby Rodriguez also took part in the event.

A huge applause greeted health frontliners belonging to the Philippine Nurses Association of America as they passed by, in recognition of their service during the pandemic.

Among those who joined the parade was a group of Sinulog and Sto. Niño devotees.

Also joining were supporters of incoming President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. who called for unity.

Tension however briefly rose after organizers disallowed a militant group from using the event to criticize the Philippine government.

Rely Manacay of PDIC said the event was not the right venue to air their grievances against the Philippine government.

The event ended peacefully. —Dave Llavanes Jr./KG, GMA News