PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE in NEW YORK CITY

The Philippine Independence Day Parade was held yesterday, June 3^rd at Madison Avenue. The parade is a celebration for the Filipino community in the Northeast United States, home to more than half a million Filipinos. The celebration in New York City is the largest among Philippine Independence celebrations in the United States. Its main goal is to promote awareness of Philippine culture and to raise funds for charity projects in the USA and the Philippines. The parade featured men, women and children in traditional Filipino costumes, different civic and professional organizations, schools, floats sponsored by commercial establishments, Filipino dance troupe, “beauty queens,” as well as men in Ati-atihan costumes. Ati-atihan is a Philippine festival in Aklan province dedicated to the celebration of the Feast of the Santo Niño or the Holy Infant Jesus. During the festival Celebrants paint their faces with black soot and wear bright, outlandish costumes as they dance in revelry in the streets. Philippine Independence from Spain is celebrated on June 12th.