NGOs make RP presence felt at 4th of July parade in D.C.

CHICAGO – The Filipino World War II veterans contingent in wheelchairs easily drew the most cheers during the Fourth of July parade in Washington, D.C., according to one of the parade organizers of this year’s 233rd National Independence Day celebration. Lawyer Arnedo S. Valera, co-executive director of Migrant Heritage Commission based in suburban Fairfax, Virginia, told this reporter that “well applauded and the most cheered were our Filipino War Veterans in wheel chairs assisted by our very own Philippine Nurses Association (of Maryland) members, and our banner adopting July 4th as well as Filipino-American Friendship day." The popularity of Filipino veterans could be due to the recent approval of the Stimulus Bill or The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) that finally recognized their heroism during World War II when they were given lump-sum payment of $15,000 each for those US citizens and $9,000 for those non-US citizens, living in the Philippines. The veterans are just one of a thousand non-government organizations from across the United States that annually join the Fourth of July parade, the biggest national parade commemorating the US Independence Day. Also well-received were the flag dancers waving US and Philippine Flags, Ati-Atihan (Philippine Mardi Gras) and Moriones Festival groups, the Mindanao Cultural Suites showing colorful indigenous costumes/dresses of Mindanao, the colorful vintas and flags. A makeshift jeepney left by US soldiers in the Philippines during World War II that has now become a part of Philippine public transportation in the Philippines also rolled during the parade. For this year, there were about 100 Filipino-American organizations that participated in the parade. Each contingent was limited by the parade committee to 70 members. But because the committee always looks forward to Philippine participation, they allowed the Migrant Heritage Commission to have at least 100 participants, according to Arnedo, whose MHC’s Cultural Resource Program started joining the parade in 2006. Arnedo said for the last three years the Philippine Embassy has been sending representatives to the parade. Last year, Philippine ambassador to the United States, Willy Gaa joined the executive directors of MHC as the leader of the Filipino-American contingent. Watchers of the parade include the movers and shakers in Washington, among them the White House, State Department Officials, Pentagon, US generals, military officials and their staff, some US senators, congressmen and their representatives, state governors, mayors and county officials in the Metro D.C. and other states. The parade was so massive, it occupied ten blocks from front to the tail end. The parade started from Independence Avenue and ended at Constitution Avenue (18th Street). It lasted almost three hours – from 11:30 a.m. up to 2:30 p.m. After the parade, the Filipino-American contingent held a massive picnic at the end of the parade route at 18th St. and Virginia Ave. It was served with such Filipino delicacies as adobo, grilled fish, salted eggs, pandesal and deserts to the amazement of thousands of passersby in what became an instant virtual Philippine fiesta celebration. After the picnic, members of the contingent and other Filipino-Americans, who were spectators of the parade coming from various states, gathered at the Mall to watch the fireworks. Valera said Filipino-Americans pay tribute to the “independence day of a great nation of America that is known as the "nation of immigrants." They also recognize the contributions of all immigrants in this country in the course of history in making America of what it is right now. “I strongly believe that what the founders of this nation envisioned is for us to commemorate July 4th as a celebration of diversity, equality and opportunity. These are the truths that we hold as self-evident under our declaration of independence. “Despite the economic crisis, this great nation remains as a magnet for immigrants to find their economic niche and exercise their freedom to the fullest. Hence as citizens of this nation, we continue to enrich America economically, culturally and politically. “We also adopted this national independence day of the US as Filipino-American Friendship day to work together and to work to unite two nations and peoples based on mutual respect, genuine equality and cooperation and a need to continue working on this as we also commemorate the 103 years of Filipino Migration to the US." - GMANews.TV