12 July 2012- The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles (LA) reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that it organized events and likewise attended several programs and activities of the Filipino Community in LA in commemoration of the Philippines' 114th Independence Day.
Prior to the National Flag Week, Philippine Consul General to LA Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon attended the Philippine Faire 2012, an event organized by the Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego, Inc. (COPAO), held on May 19 at Chula Vista in California.
The Consulate also attended another activity the following day, May 20, organized by the Philippine Society of Southeast Los Angeles (PHILSELA).
The Society held a Santa Cruzan leading to the festivities to commemorate the 114th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence. The parade was held at the Cerritos Regional Park.
On June 02, Consul General Aragon also attended the 4th Annual Kayamanan ng Bayan and the celebration of the 114th Philippine Independence Day of the Filipinos in California.
The event, held at the CBS Studios located at Studio City, California, was organized by Mr. Boy Lizaso.
That same evening, the Consulate likewise attended the Philippine Independence Coordinating Council of Southern California's (PICCSC) 114th Anniversary of Philippine Independence Day Gala Night at the Hilton LAX Hotel, where Vice President Jejomar C. Binay attended as guest of honor.
These series of Independence Day events were followed by a flag ceremony in observance of the National Flag Week on June 04.
The ceremony was initiated by the Consulate's officers and staff, led by Consul General Aragon, at the Consulate's Rizal Hall.
Days after, on June 09, the Consul General graced the Independence Day celebration organized by the Mabuhay Fil-Am at Kimball Park, National City in California.
Together with the Consulate personnel, she also participated in the celebration of the 114th Philippine Independence Day at the Veterans Park, Carson City in California and the Kalayaan, Inc.'s dinner dance ball, which was held at the Torrance Marriott Southbay. This year's event was chaired by Atty. Antero Pagunsan.
The next day, the Consulate also attended another Independence Day celebration which was organized by the Rosewood United Methodist Church.
This was followed on June 12 by a reception, organized by the Consulate, for the members of the Consular Corps, local government officials, the Filipino-American community and the media at the Consulate's Rizal Hall.
Various Filipino community organizations conducted their Independence Day events after June 12.
On June 14, the Consulate officers and staff also attended the Independence Day celebration organized by the Los Angeles County Filipino-American Employees Association (LACFAEA) at the Lawn Area, Kenneth Hall of Administration in downtown LA.
The next day, June 15, a resolution proclaiming the month of June as Philippine Independence Month was presented by the LA City Council to its Filipino-American Community there.
With the news of the proclamation, a separate event on the parade of Philippine flags, organized by the Los Angeles Filipino-American City Employees (LAFACE) led by Ms. Cora Soriano, was staged at the LA City Hall Spring Steps on even date.
On June 16, when the Consul General attended the opening of the Kalayaan Cup 2012 at the San Gabriel Valley Badminton Club in Pomona, California, she was welcomed and received with a bouquet of flowers by the officers and members of the Philippine Badminton Club.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown held Pista sa Nayon to commemorate Independence Day also on the same date at the Silverlake Medical Center Cafeteria.
The Consul General also attended the annual Fiesta Filipiniana 2012 on June 23. The fiesta was organized by the San Diego Philippine Library and the Historical Heritage Museum to commemorate the 114th anniversary of Philippine Independence and the 151st birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal. Finally, on even date, the Consul General also graced the 11th annual Philippine Independence Ball honoring the General Emilio Aguinaldo Leadership Awardees at The Westin Hotel in San Diego, California. END
