The 112th Philippine Independence Day Celebration in NYC This year, New York-based Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, celebrated the 112th commemoration of Philippine Independence. PIDCI, which is concurrently celebrating its 20th year, started the morning with a flag-raising ceremony in front of the Philippine Center along Fifth Avenue. It was followed by a mass celebrated at Kalayaan Hall and a ribbon cutting event that kicked off a parade along Madison Avenue. The Independence Day Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Oscar Aquino and the vocals were provided by the De La Salle Chorale who traveled from Europe for the festivities. At the end of the mass, Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong was recognized and applauded for her six years of service in New York. Parade mascot “Haw-haw D Carabao” was one of the highlights of the parade that featured 113 participating groups. Grand Marshals Benjamin and Dr. Zenaida Santos, joined the parade atop a motorized “kalabaw” made from a temporarily converted mini cooper. The parade also featured a mobile “bahay kubo,” carried by four men. A large Philippine flag was carried by a 12-person team and encapsulated the idea of “bayanihan.” Rain and wind did not dampen the mood of the crowd who eagerly waited for the performances of Christian Bautista, Sarah Geronimo, and Carlos Orosa. Atty. Michael Gurfinkel facilitated the travel visas for these
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