NEW YORK —The Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), a nonprofit organization best known for the largest Philippine Independence Day Parade outside the Philippines, which is also celebrating its silver anniversary this year, is all set to host its annual Philippine Independence Day Parade, accompanied by an all-day street fair andcultural festival, stretching from 38 th Street down to 23 rd Street and Madison Avenue, on Sunday, June 1, from 11:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

First Filipina Miss World Megan Young, who recently appeared at an event in New York toraise funds for the victims of super typhoon Haiyan in central Philippines will headline theparade along with Original Philippine Music (OPM) icons Kuh Ledesma, Cecile Azarcon,Edlyn Peregrina, and Ogie Alcasid; First Filipina Carnaval Queen in Brazil Bessie Badilla;and PIDCI Grand Marshals Drs. Emilio and Felicisima Quines. The Filipino community;the Philippine Consulate General New York led by Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr,who also acts as an Honorary Adviser to PIDCI; Philippine Ambassador to the US JoseLuis Cuisia; Permanent Representative to the United Nations Libran Cabactulan; andnearly 200 Filipino American-related nonprofit and for profit organizations, will march alongMadison Avenue and take part in the day-long celebrations, whose attendance likely peaksat 100,000 people, made up mostly of Filipinos and Filipino Americans who come from theNew York Tri-State area, Pennsylvania, California, Canada, and the Philippines. Scheduled activities include the following:• 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.: FLAG CEREMONY AND INDEPENDENCE DAY MASS at thePhilippine Center, 556 Fifth Avenue. Contact (212) 764-3749.• 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: STREET FAIR, 26thStreet down to 24 th Street and MadisonAvenue. • 11:45 a.m.: PARADE OPENING CEREMONY, 38thStreet and Madison Avenue• 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.: INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE, 38thStreet down to 27 th Streetand Madison Avenue. • 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.: CULTURAL FESTIVAL, 23rdStreet and Madison Avenue For more information, please like PIDCI on facebook, www.facebook.com/pidci

Suite 1501 291 Broadway
New York, New York 10007
Email info@pidci.org
Website http://www.pidci.org/

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Through his own initiative and hard work, Herke and his Filipino wife Arleen Smidstra-Santiago, built an orphanage called Bahay Aurora in Baras, Philippines, currently housing 45 children who would otherwise be living in the street.  Herke, Arleen and a small staff, take in poverty-stricken orphaned children, provide them with shelter and proper nutrition, and mend their emotional wounds. The children are taught the essentials of life, from personal hygiene and exercise to manners and morals.

Bahay Aurora also feeds and helps educate hundreds of other children in the region who are in great need.  For nearly 20 years, Herke has tirelessly set out on his mission to help street children in the Philippines.  Unwanted children are often left at Bahay Aurora.  Others are found by Herke living on decaying garbage dumps where they forage for food or something to sell.

Seeing the need around him, Herke’s dedication to the issue of poverty and education is awe-inspiring. One of the issues Herke is striving to tackle is the quality of education, along with improving conditions for students with mental disabilities. Little to no support is given to children with special needs, so Bahay Aurora offers educational courses for mentally disabled children who are often rejected from the regular schooling system.

Herke and Arleen’s selflessness is inspiring. Herke has said that the hardest part has been living separated for long periods from his own children, now grown and residing in the Netherlands. They started this project commuting back and forth, but have lived full-time in the Philippines for the past seven years. Their intention is to create hope for a better future for more of the impoverished children of the Philippines. For more information, visit: http://www.bahayaurora.nl/eng/index.php

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Food and drinks served included roasted over-charcoal lechon, pinakbet (bittersweet melon), steamed white rice, Italian-garden spaghetti, spaghetti with meatballs a’la filipino, baked ziti, vegetable pancit, chilled watermelon, a Filipino dessert specialty, the sapin-sapin (purple sweet rice topped with coconut), and the most special of them all one can’t do without is the halo-halo ice cream special.

Many topics included business, recruiting of new members, vacation trips, family affairs, upcoming holiday events, seminar events, and much more.

Various activities also took place. Some took a nap in the afternoon breeze under a tree, while some were also doing dances and physical fitness rounds and tennis and jogging to keep healthy and fit.

There was excitement and eagerness with each and every one. A camaraderie was clearly there, with members telling others to help themselves to the many foods and cold refreshments. The spirit of *bayanihan*, which means helping and togetherness is highly one of the cultural character traits of the Filipinos. Mabuhay po!

Filipino-American Women’s Club

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