APODCAA MARSHALS PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE IN DC
Who says manpower shortage would be a constraint in maintaining order
in the conduct of a parade? It may seem unthinkable at the outset that
a handful of men and women would marshal a parade of cascading colors
and a flood of people composed of no less that ten thousand of Filipinos
coming from as far as Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk in Virginia,
Delaware, and Maryland - not counting participants from the host state,
Washington, DC.
There were many days of preparation, each one posing a question and a
challenge, each member cracking head trying to find ways and means to
come up with the best plan of action for an effective system of running
the affair. Knowing that the activity was manpower based and faced with
the hard fact that the number of active members was very limited, the
leadership of Brother Mody Olympia was facing a high wall,
insurmountable and tough. But with the support of the officers and
members, strength of spirit was mustered. The unrelenting stance of
Brother Doods Castellano, Chairman of the Philippine Independence Day
Committee drew the inspiration of the general membership. Brother
Anthony Busog, Service Committee Chairman, coordinated the activities
prior to the affair from the members' attendance to meetings to the
printing of T-shirts for the family members. Brother Jessie Dayrit
played a wonderful role in those activities as well. Brother Santi
Sipin coordinated with the Philippine Embassy. We cannot undermine the
bright mind and idea of Brod Paul Alvarez in having thought of putting
and actually making the posts to hold the ropes restraining passage of
people that would usually cross the streets during the parade. No one
could imagine how Brothers Ding Gomez and Mody Olympia looked like while
cutting hundreds of bamboo trees for use in decorating in assistance to
the PAFC contingents assigned to the task. Sister Delia Esguerra
contented herself in practice-shooting with a staple gun while attaching
the banners to the bamboo posts.
Finally, the much-awaited event arrived. The long stretch of
Pennsylvania Avenue, traversing the 3rd to the 7th streets, as well as
Constitution Avenue at the heart of Washington, DC was lined with
colorful decorations, vendors, booths, and, of course, the numerous
participants , onlookers and bystanders.
The usual early birds were from the fro up of Brod Danny Francia who
arrived with Kaydee and Denden, Sis Lulu Sipin and daughters Yvette,
Claudine and Pauline, Sis Ellen Dayrit with children Nique, Joy and DJ
driven by their father, Brod Jessie Dayrit. Then came Brod Vic de Leon
with wife Scarlet and children Christine and Monique followed by Brod
Anthony Busog with children Gwyneth and Deanna. The trio, Brod Paul
and Axi Alvarez and Brod Rhadee Cayman arrived together. Brod Danrem
Balino came with father Danny and mother Remedios Balino. Brod Junie
Babatuan came with his camera on shoulder. Brod Doods Castellano came
with wife Brenda and son Benzi, The rest of the members came either in
solo or in pairs. Sis Vel Foust came with husband David, Tita Dits and
Sis Delia Esguerra. Brod Ed Narvacan arrived earlier than them. Brod
Sherwin Landicho, Brod Leo de la Cruz and his son, and Brod Soan
Velasquez arrived almost at the same time. Brod Mar Deyto, 2nd Vice
President, and Rose arrived just in time for the briefing. Brod Bodgie
Oasan came with son Alain while Sis Nanette Malapitan came earlier than
her son Joel. Brod EpEp Escobar who was the Official Still Photographer
of Philippine Independence Day Parade took pictures of the whole event.
Brod Jesse Manuel were there to help unload props and decorate. The
Treasurer, Brod Rudy Magsalin, arrived without the usual receipts and
collection journal for the first time, played a significant role in
taking down banners and decorations after the festival.
Quite surprisingly, Brods Dennis Arellano and Munding Obias joined the
group in service. As usual, Brod Marlon Simon arrived with Jean. The
1st Vice-President, Brod Bennie Domingo arrived after Brod Chito Yabes.
Action commenced when Brod Rene Amon, Member of the Board of Advisers,
arrived with visiting Brother Chito Penala from Beta Sigma Chapter.
Brod Rey Castro joined the group as well. While gathered inside a
marked booth, a Brother, Roby Jose III approached and introduced
himself.
When the short cultural program ended, the drums started beating.
Obviously short in manpower to man the long stretched posts, the ropes
help control the crowd from crossing the streets while the parade was
going on. Even the watchers and onlookers aided the marshals by holding
on to the ropes. Brod Doods Castellano obviously demonstrated his
leadership in guiding the marshals in maintaining order, running,
walking, giving orders and instructions to the participants and
onlookers. It was an overly exhausting exercise but all the energy
exerted and the perspiration that overflowed were worth after everything
was over. It was great success after all - a wonderful performance, and
a crystal clear demonstration of service rendered par excellence. On
the aftermath, brod Deejay Alfaro, our very own webmaster, collected all
the pictures taken by brods Rene Amon and EpEp Escobar and posted them
in our website at www.apodcaa.com. Kudos to the Philippine Independence
Day Committee. Way to go APODCAA.
By:
Sis Delia Esguerra
APODCAA Board of Advisers
Alpha Nu '70
From: A. Valera
Date: Mon Jun 6, 2005 1:47 pm
Subject: Re: [pafc] Cheers to the Philippine Festival Committee
This is the best Philippine Festival Fair I ever attended. High
visibility, a united theme, an excellent cultural presentation
showcasing Fil-Am Talents, a very colorful and meaningful parade and
for the first time well organized , smoothly operated booths and
kiosks....and the attendees wow... showcase of immigrants and various
nationalities supporting the event....
Bank of America and other corporate sponsors of this event should be
very proud of this!!! They got more than their money's worth and most
important of all is they learned and enjoy to say the least the
Philippine Culture at its best... Mainstreaming is bringing into our
environment the best of the Philippines to enrich American culture
and the society as a whole.......
Mabuhay ang Phi. Festival Committee 2005 PAFC...excellent work!!!!
From: Ador Carreon
Date: Mon Jun 6, 2005 11:13 am
Subject: Thank you
Dear Everyone,
Thank you and congratulations to the Fair and Parade Committee and to
everyone who assisted us in your own special way for a very
sucessful event. We could have not done It without your support.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
From: Mary Anne T. Fadul
Date: Mon Jun 6, 2005 10:26 am
Subject: [pafc] Cheers to the Philippine Festival Committee
Better venue + More vendors with variety of crafts & trade from far
away places like Jacksonville, FL and New Jersey + A variety of
activities for both young and not so young + Lots of helping hand +
The hottest day of 2005, so far = A VERY SUCCESSFUL PHILIPPINE FAIR
2005.
To the PFC 2005 led by Ador Carreon and the hundreds of volunteers,
you all deserve a pat in the back and a break today. The Bayanihan
spirit in all of you really stood up in yesterday's efforts!
All the angst, trials & tribulations that are part of the
preparations were seamless to the thousands who attended yesterday's
fair.
From PAFC, our profound thanks to all the volunteers who made the
Philippine Fair a success!
Best regards,
PAFC Board & Officers
p.s. The Gala, Cultural Night, Picnic & Sportsfest are next!
View Comments (1)
This page has been accessed 2345 times since 05/15/05!
Copyright 2002 Alpha Phi Omega DC Area (MD/DC/VA) Alumni Association, Washington D.C., USA. All rights reserved.
