CARSON, Calif. — Mark Pulido, a longtime Cerritos public servant and one of Southern California’s most visible Filipino American civic leaders, has been named Grand Marshal of the 128th Annual Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Carson.
The celebration, organized by the Philippine Independence Day Foundation in collaboration with the City of Carson, will be held Saturday, June 6, at Veterans Park, 22400 Moneta Avenue. Admission is free, with activities beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Pulido’s selection places him in the ceremonial lead of a major Filipino American community gathering that marks the Philippines’ declaration of independence on June 12, 1898, while also recognizing the civic presence of Filipinos in Southern California.
A former two-term mayor of Cerritos and the city’s first Filipino American mayor, Pulido currently serves as mayor pro tem. His public career also includes service on the ABC Unified School District Board of Education, where he served as board president.
The Grand Marshal honor recognizes Pulido’s long record in education, local government and community service. His public life has been rooted in Southeast Los Angeles County, where Filipino American families have helped shape civic, school and neighborhood institutions over several decades.
This year’s celebration will feature Filipino cultural presentations, food vendors, community exhibits and family activities. The entertainment lineup includes Sofronio Vasquez, winner of The Voice, comedian Rex Navarrete and the Filipino dance group Junior New System.
The Carson event has long served as more than a cultural festival. For many families, it is an annual public expression of history, identity and belonging, linking Philippine independence with the Filipino American experience in the United States.
Pulido’s designation as Grand Marshal reflects that broader story. His career mirrors the path of many Filipino Americans who moved from community participation into school board service, city government and wider public leadership.
