Philippines (Republic Day/Filipino-American Friendship Day)

May 13, 2019 / 0 Comments

How Philippines Independence Day is Celebrated by Different Generations of Filipinos

OLDER GENERATIONS (the elderly)

Typically, the elderly, particularly women, celebrate Philippines Independence Day through traditional Festival celebrations. They are the core entertainment and help make the food.

This is because the main religion in the Philippines is Catholic. The churches where the Filipinos go to hold these celebrations and older women comprise most of its body (Hillsong 2018). In the Hillsong Church Campus, they held a festival celebration for its church members in Sydney, Australia (https://hillsong.com/es/collected/blog/2018/07/filipino-independence-day-2018-at-the-hills-campus/). The theme that year was “Filipiñana” (Hillsong 2018). Many guests wore the traditional Maria Clara and Barong Tagalog dress (Hillsong 2018). The women of the church also helped perform a dance, sing, and the community provided a buffet dinner as well.

YOUNGER GENERATIONS

As for the younger generations (14-23-year-olds), many go out to the festivals and parades as well. When interviewing my Family Friend, who resides in New York City, she mentioned that she and her siblings participated in the dance groups that were held at parades and festivals. They would often prepare months in advanced in dance classes to perform in front of their elders. These were typical for the ladies, but as for men, they helped out with the logistics of the parade. Often time, these men would help set up and run the Flag Ceremony that is held (Philippine Consulate General 2014). There is a common trend that the younger generations would perform to please their family and elders, but the older generations would prepare the food and also perform dances as well. Traditionally, the younger generation is not as active in celebrating the holiday because their mothers and grandmothers help prepare the large majority of the celebration festivities (like cooking, tailoring dresses, dancing, etc.). See below for pictures:

Chicken Adobo (Source: burntlumpiablog.com)

May 13, 2019 / 0 Comments

Commercialization of Philippines Independence Day

SPORTS

One of the many festivities for Philippine Independence Day is Eskrima, the national sport and a weapon based martial arts fighting with “sticks, knives and other bladed objects” (Anderson 2016). This sport is commercialized by those who celebrate it by holding performances during parades and offering souvenirs to those who choose to explore the sport. See below for an image of the national sport.

CLOTHING

Additionally, a fashion show is held during the celebration. Many women buy traditional Filipino clothing and costumes. “Many women [wear] long, flowing dresses with colorful fabrics and sequins” (Anderson 2016). Therefore, Filipina women go out to buy new dresses to celebrate the holiday. This traditional type of dress is called Baro’t Saya, which is a dress that is composed of a blouse and a long skirt. This name is literally called “skirt” and “shirt”. These colors are usually the colors of the flag: red, white, blue and yellow (Ponce de Leon 2018). When interviewing my Filippino family friend, she said that her Aunties always bought her a new Baro’t Saya every year a month leading up to the holiday. She said that the experience of going shopping with her family is tradition, no matter how many dresses she may own. These women get their dresses custom made and tailored. See below for a picture:

FOOD

Like most households around the world during holidays, many Filipinos make their own traditional food at home. Popular dishes include Chicken Adobo, Caldereta (Spicy Beef Stew), and Leche Flan (Gapultos 2013). Some also make Bicol Express (a spicy dish with coconut milk and chicken), Gising Gising (coconut milk with ground pork), and Paella Tinola (a Spanish dish, paella, mixed with a traditional Filipino dish of tinola) (ABS-CBN News 2014). In addition to the homemade foods, the holiday itself commercializes on these recipes through selling it at festivals held in its cities (Fontanilla 2018).

May 6, 2019 / 0 Comments

NYC Celebrations

New York City- Philippines Independence Day Celebrations

The Filipinos living in New York City have made one of the biggest cities an ideal location to celebrate Friendship Day and Independence through a parade right where they live. An entire organization has been created, dedicated to commemorating the special holiday. Bringing in the culture of the Philippines into the streets of New York City creates new ways of celebrating and invites the city to take part in it as well. People from all over the tri-state area come to celebrate the independence of the Philippines from both the United States and Spain. These two holidays fall very close together, with Independence day being June 12 and Friendship day being July 4th. The Holiday is able to gather together the Filipinos throughout the region.

In New York City, the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI), plans a festival filled with music, arts, and other festivities for Filipinos and other New Yorkers to enjoy within the city. This day is filled with various activities for people to become more involved. Because it is a day to celebrate independence and Philippines friendship with the United States, it has become a celebration involving even the Filipino Consulate. The parade is held usually along Madison Avenue, with food kiosks and other activities following.

The celebration often begins in the first weekend of June, which starts off with a parade along Madison Avenue. The festivities usually continue on till the actual day of independence, June 12. Afterward, there is a cultural festival and street fair featuring Filipino stars as well as local Filipinos and Filipinas performing for the crowds. This marks the beginning of the celebration of Philippines Independence. Filipino restaurants from all over the city are invited to take part in selling traditional food for the celebration.

The parade also brings in cultural dancers from the Philippines, usually being the winners of a festival held in the Philippines. As the march goes, performers bring to light any social issues and opinions on their President. Indicating the importance of this celebration the Philippines consulates also take part in supporting these celebrations. Often times Additionally, Filipinos take pride in their beauty queens and in celebration of their country they hold a beauty pageant of their own. The PIDCI hosts the MRS KALAYAAN PAGEANT and the DIWA NG KALAYAAN. With both pageants, Filipinas of all ages are able to participate and display their beauty. The winners take part in the parade and have their own float. To close off the celebration, the committee hosts an Independence ball after the parade.

NYC Philippines Independence Day Parade (Cultural Costumes)

The entire celebration is essential in representing the type of relationship that the United States and the Philippines hold. Although Americans are not usually aware of this celebration, it is the location that allows many citizens to be exposed to the friendships we have with Filipinos. It indicates a sense of belonging for the Filipinos that immigrated to the United States as well as allows for a contribution to the mosaic of New York City.

May 6, 2019 / 0 Comments

What is Philippines Republic/Independence Day?

What is Friendship Day?

Friendship Day is the day when America helped to release the Philippines from the First Philippine Republic. Doing so, this American-Philippine Friendship Day is commemorated to celebrate the long-lasting friendship between the United States and the Philippines. The holiday is more widely celebrated within the Philippines rather than the United States. This is also because the American-Philippine Friendship Day falls on Independence Day for the United States. This would mean many Americans would be using this day as an excuse for barbeques and fireworks. Yes, American-Philippine Friendship Day is on the fourth of July.

Independence Day

The Independence Day for the Philippines actually falls earlier in the month on June 12th. This day is used to commemorate the freedom of the Philippines from Spain. This is considered the official independence day for the Philippines. After their freedom from Spain, the country was able to identify as the Philippines rather than a colony of Spain.

Both holidays are celebrated to really value the culture of the Philippines. These are days when the Philippines truly became their own unified country. Philippines Independence Day appears to be a day to really value the culture of the Philippines and who the Filipinos identify to be.