The Philippine-American Friendship Committee, Inc. (PAFCOM), a Jersey City-based socio-civic service-oriented organization, has long journeyed and rousingly established its dedicated advocacy of providing community service and assistance programs which enormously covered various activities that have brought about effectual social well-being and sustainable assistance in many Jersey City communities.
This year, as the organization turns another milestone and in its continuing attempt to bring to light distinct regional festivities, PAFCOM leans towards celebrating its Friendship and Coronation Night with an electrifying theme… the famous and world-renowned Panagbenga Flower Festival of Baguio City.
The word “Panagbenga” is a Malay-Polynesian term which means “season of blooming” or “a time for flowering” which was earlier adapted through the endorsement of archivist and art curator Ike Picpican in 1961.The festival is highlighted by floral-covered floats and bloom-laden carousels and carriages that parade around the city streets with floral-clad dancers closely inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloy tribe dance of celebration by natives of the Cordillera region
The month-long floral-themed celebration has been a customary festivity in Baguio City every month of February primarily to pay tribute to the abundance of the city’s flowers during this season and secondly, it became a way to rise from the massive devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.
Inspired and motivated by Baguio’s annual flower feast, the indefatigable PAFCOM president Ledy Almadin and this year’s Gala and Coronation Chair Rose P. Javier unanimously arrived at a common scheme of having a Panagbenga-themed affair… not only recreating the ambitious setting but to stamp a uniquely peculiar vista while simultaneously establishing a paramount scene of grandiose scope… something absolutely new-fangled and innovatively apart from among the already customary event set-ups around.
In a recent closed-door meeting to firm up and mobilize every detail, Projects Coordinating Committee Chair Helen Castillo and Board of Directors Vice-Chair & Cultural Committee Chair Isagani Puertollano enthusiastically approved the idea and instantaneously gave their thumbs-up signal in unison.
After having celebrated its vanguard event that honored Gwen De Vera as this year’s Grand Marshal via a lavish dinner-dance last April 16 at Pavilion at Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, (with Sue Henderson, Ph.D. and Councilman Jonathan Wong as Honorary Grand Marshals), the Panagbenga-themed affair of colossal magnitude follows on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the posh Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott Hotel (1 Hotel Road, Newark, NJ 07114) — the grand Friendship and Coronation Ball.
To circumspectly uphold the authenticity of one of the most attended regional festivals in the country, working committee heads unanimously chose an eminent community leader, Dr. Dolly Rivera, as the Panagbenga Queen, she, being a legitimate native of Baguio.
And to flatteringly inject that genuine ethnical distinction, the stylishly up-to-date Panagbenga Queen will be escorted by prominent members of BIBAK (acronym for the indigenous sub-groups and dominant cultural tribes of the Cordillera Region: Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga) who will be garbed in their authentic regional or tribal costumes.
Highlighting the much-awaited event is the startling participation of Filipina beauties who will be crowned that technically entitle them for a slot in the roster of PAFCOM’s Royal Court of Muses: Tenette Juarez Lirio as Mrs. PAFCOM 2016, Vanessa Santiago as Miss PAFCOM 2016, Angelina Rose Javier as Miss Teen PAFCOM 2016, Sabrina Ramos as Miss Liberty 2016, Jessica Lynn Soriano as Bb. Pilipinas 2016, Jazmine Andes as Mutya ng Silangan 2016, and Mykaela Rae Castillo as Miss Little PAFCOM 2016.
Incidentally, PAFCOM has enormously lined-up other big events in this year’s celebration:
a Flag Raising Ceremony is slated on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at the Jersey City City Hall; the annual Parade and Festival occurs on Sunday, June 26, 2016 which commences with a Holy Mass at Our Lady of Victory Church at 10:00 AM, followed with a parade at 11:30 and fittingly capped with a Festival Entertainment galore at the airy Lincoln Park from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
A wide array of Festival Booths that vend a wide variety of merchandise (from clothing to fashion accessories to souvenir items and food stuff) will be ready to welcome visitors and sightseers from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The five-hour entertainment show plus the eight hours of booth-hopping spree are, indubitably, more than enough to fully spend and enjoy a guaranteed stress-relieving and pleasurable last Sunday of June.
Just when you thought that was all there’s to it, think again. PAFCOM has reserved an exciting Golf Tournament for the sport buffs on Sunday, July 30, 2016 at 8:00 AM at the Skyway Golf Course along 515 Duncan Avenue in Jersey City.
It’s but fitting and proper to give credit where it is due. The four months of unparalleled celebration wouldn’t be made possible without the selfless commitment and driven allegiance of conscientiously dependable committee chairs that spearhead the team: Rose P. Javier for Friendship Ball and Coronation Gala; Isagani “Gani” Puertollano for Cultural Affairs; Lito Pernia for Parade; Mei Sia for the Grand Marshal Ball; Mike Florendo for Booths and Exhibits; Oscar Fernando for the Golf Tournament; Maureen Varco for the Festival Entertainment; and Ness Bantog for Photography.
This Fiscal Year’s PAFCOM officers are composed of: Ledy Almadin, President; Rose P. Javier, President-elect; Susan Lagmay, Secretary; Lita Roxas, Treasurer; Lito Pernia, Auditor; and Lumen Castañeda, Press Relations Officer.
Dr. Constancia “Connie” S. Uy serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors with Isagani “Gani” Puertollano as Vice-Chairman.
Committee Chairs include: Helen Castillo as the Projects Coordinating Committee Chair; Perla Candilaria for Budget and Finance; Victor Sison, Esq. for Nomination and Election; and Councilman Arvin Amatorio, Esq. as Legal Adviser.
For additional information, inquiries, or ticket reservation, please call 201.479.8941 or email: [email protected]. You may also visit www.pafcomnj.org or visit their Facebook page at PAFCOM_NJ or Twitter Account @pafcom_nj and instagram account: pafcom_nj.
Photo Credit: Miss Ness Bantog
For comments and suggestions, please email to: [email protected].
