Philippine Festival and Faire 2008 in San Diego

The “Philippine Festival and Faire 2008″ to be held at the Mira Mesa Community Park in San Diego, on June 7, 2008, promises to be a bigger and better celebration of the 110th Anniversary of Philippine Independence. The whole day affair starts at 9:00 with a “Festival of Festivals” Parade from the mall at the intersection of Mira Mesa Boulevard and Greenford Drive, featuring depictions of several colorful fiestas and festivals celebrated in the Philippines.

Thousands of Filipino-American community leaders, professionals, students, and others are expected to march West along Mira Mesa Boulevard, make a right turn on Camino del Rio and then move on to the Festival & Faire grounds at the Mira Mesa Community Park. An opening ceremony at 10:45 a.m. will be followed by non-stop entertainment and cultural presentations, simultaneous with business, cultural, community service, information service, health service and food booths and exhibits. The whole community is invited. Admission is FREE.

Some people wonder why we bother to celebrate the independence of the Philippines, which is thousands of miles distant, when we are now residents and citizens of the United States of America.

We celebrate that historic moment because, 110 years ago, we, as a nation, were born into freedom. As Diosdado Macapagal, the 9th President of the Philippines, said, the Filipino people, “moulded into a nation by the process of cultural evolution and a sense of oneness born of common struggle and suffering, announced to the world that it was asserting its natural right to liberty and was ready to defend it with blood, life, and honor.”

We celebrate Philippine Independence because it allows us to take stock of our community’s social and political situation in the United States. Although we are free, we continue to struggle to attain the same level of recognition and influence that other Americans enjoy. Our celebration of Philippine Independence is affirmed by the theme of the Philippine Festival and Faire 2008, “Community Through Unity,” which was selected by the hosts of the event: the Aguinaldo Foundation, the Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County, and the Mabuhay Alliance. The collaboration between three of the largest organizations in San Diego County is a bold step toward unifying our often fractious community.

We celebrate Philippine Independence because it reminds us of our roots and the influence we can play in the molding of the mother country, not only through the sending of remittances to relatives and friends, but also in moving the Philippines from 3rd world status to a place among developing countries. Through helping the poorest of the poor attain a sense of dignity and worth in their own country.

The June 7 event in Mira Mesa will follow on the heels of another important gathering of Filipino-Americans … ONE. On Saturday, May 24, 2008, ONE will draw together thousands of Filipino Americans at the Kimball Park in National City to celebrate the Filipino dream for unity, for solidarity, for honor. ONE with Gawad Kalinga is a call to all Filipinos for a renewing of the mind. Historical patterns of divisiveness cannot be allowed to defeat the love all Filipinos have for the homeland and the dream of becoming a strong and proud people. A renewed will to be ONE fueled by our highest aspirations and cultural strengths must be our covenant with one another.

Soon after the gathering at Kimball Park, Filipino-Americans will have another opportunity to honor our birthright, pursue our ideals, as individuals and as ONE people as we jointly celebrate the 110th anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 7, at the Mira Mesa Community Park in San Diego. Another opportunity to honor the best of our roots, the best of our culture, the heroesamong our ancestors, the patriotism and sacrifices of our parents. Another opportunity to show that Filipinos are ONE people, equal to the best, and capable of being ONE voice across America all the way to the homeland.

Come then and participate in the “Festival of Festivals” Grand Parade which kicks off the Philippine Festival and Faire 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Assembly for the parade will be at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7 in the vicinity of the shopping mall at the corner of Mira Mesa Boulevard and Greenford Drive.

To continue a tradition that we started several years ago, the parade will share with the rest of the community our nation’s unique history and culture of exotic influences, colorful combination of rich traditions, and unusual faces of ethnic diversity which are reflected in some of the country’s most colorful and exciting fiestas and festivals. Filipino-American organizations are encouraged to pick a favorite festival from the many celebrated in the Philippines and to re-enact that festival through costumes, street dancing, a parade float or other mode of display.

Organizations, businesses, schools and individuals are encouraged to join us in the celebration of our freedom through this whole day event. Vendor, information and food booth rental applications are now being accepted. Applications to join the Festival of Festivals Parade are also invited. Send an e-mail to copao2008faire (at) yahoo (dot) com and we’ll send you an application form.

By: COPAO Public Relations
On behalf of the Collaborative:
Aguinaldo Foundation
Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County
Mabuhay Alliance

Tel # 619-850-0825
Website: www.copao-sandiego.org

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