LOS ANGELES – On Flag Day (June 14), the LA City Council joined the Filipino community in celebrating the 115th anniversary of Philippine Independence and passed a resolution that enjoins the city in this occasion.
“The Los Angeles City Council hereby declares the month of June as Philippine Independence Month in the City of Los Angeles and joins the Los Angeles Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE) and the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles in the celebration of its 115th Anniversary of Philippine Independence,” the resolution read.
The resolution, read at the City Council Chambers on Friday morning, was sponsored by 4th District Councilmember Tom LaBonge and 15th District Councilmember Joe Buscaino. Wearing a Barong Tagalog, City Council President and 10th District Councilmember Herb J. Wesson presided over the proceedings in the City Chambers.
14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar lauded LAFACE for being an active organization in the City Hall. Huizar also cited the many noteworthy contributions of the Filipino community to Los Angeles, in terms of arts, culture, and the diversity of the city as a whole.
He also congratulated Filipino World War II Veterans for their great victory when they were given partial reparation payment by the US government two years ago.
LAFACE President Cora Soriano said that she “treasures” the city council for their continuous support on the Philippine Independence celebration, as well as their recognition of the contributions of Pinoys to the city.
“I truly love them all,” Soriano said of the supportive city councilmembers.
After the proclamation in the City Council Chamber, a program was held at the LA City Hall Forecourt to honor Philippine Independence Day.
The program, which was hosted by LAFACE and sponsored by Councilmember LaBonge, featured various cultural and musical performances by the Malaya Filipino-American Dance Arts, Mon David, Annie Nepomuceno, and the Rondalla Club of LA.
Jaclyn Yangyuen performed both the US and Philippine national anthems, The Star-Spangled Banner and Lupang Hinirang.
City Clerk June Lagmay, the first ever Asian and Filipino woman to hold the City Clerk post, also attended the proclamation on Friday. Lagmay, who grew up in Historic Filipinotown, said that “it is such a delight” to be with her colleagues in celebrating the Philippine Independence.
“I’m just proud to join my countrymen and countrywomen,” Lagmay said. She said that it is extremely important to celebrate the occasion, and that it reminds her of her “responsibility to do a good job to put a good face on her community” and to make her Filipino parents proud.
Consul General Hellen Barber – De La Vega, who received the resolution on behalf of the Philippine Consular Corps and the Filipino-American community, expressed her profuse gratitude to the LA City Council for their assistance in facilitating the necessary paperwork for the Kalayaan 2013 parade, which was held on June 8.
De La Vega said that the US and the Philippines share core values of freedom and democracy. It is these shared values that bind both countries together as “natural allies” in the Asia Pacific region. Those values form the core of the relationship between the United States and the Philippines, De La Vega said.
Economic environment between the two countries may change over time, but these shared values of freedom and democracy will remain for generations to come, and would continue to help nurture the relationship between the two nations, she added.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend June 15-18, 2013 Sec A pg.1)
