June 2, 2007. I was there during the 109th Philippine Independence Day Parade in downtown Boston (around Boston City Hall). [another video after the jump]
I would have missed the celebration if not for my friends, Rose and Emily, who requested that I should extend a day more in Boston before leaving for New York. A Filipino parade, Pinoy stuff on sale and meeting lots of Filipinos living in New England (a region of the United States located in the northeastern corner of the country, consisting of the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) were just few of the things that made me change my departure schedule. Excited, I was, to experience this kind of gathering. Never would this happen in South Dakota with only few Filipinos around. I must take the opportunity, I thought.
My day with them started with meeting a number of Filipinos selling T-shirts, Pinoy food and even halo-halo. The prices were affordable - a T-shirt with "Philippine" print was only priced for 5 dollars. There were free pastries for all too!
Most of the Filipinos were living outside Boston and they came only for the event. The parade started on time at 10 AM with the police escorts arriving much earlier.
The Philippine Independence Day Parade is a celebration for the Filipino-American community in the Northeast United States, home to more than half a million Filipinos. The main purpose is to create awareness of Philippine culture. Philippine Independence, as a celebration in Boston brings together the movers and shakers in the Filipino-American community. Philippine Independence, as a celebration in America, as stated in Wikipedia, "is largely an invention of the last decade--rather than having distinct cultural significance, the event is instead manufactured as a cultural awareness campaign." It is a major event for all generations of Filipino-Americans to rekindle their roots and pay tribute to their heritage. Though the largest among Philippine Independence celebrations in the United States takes place in neighboring New York City (Madison Avenue) every first Sunday of June, the celebration scheduled in Boston is on a Saturday.
It was a momentous time for me. Though most of the Pinoys were not friendly as the others I've met and chatted that day, their presence made me realize how scattered a race we are around the world, indeed!
I will write more of my Boston trip later. For now, enjoy another video.
Labels: USA Blogging, World Travels
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