Philippine-American Friendship Committee Parade and Festival 2010 Text and Photos By Richard M. Reyes JERSEY CITY - This past Sunday, June 27th is the 64th year of Philippine-American Friendship Day. It is also the 20th year for the Philippine-American Friendship Committee's Parade and Street Fair. However, it is the 1st year that the parade route was along West Side Avenue in Jersey City, NJ culminating in a festival and fair at the Bergen Light Rail Train Station parking lot. In the past the parade was held in downtown Jersey City with the street fair at Exchange Place. Normally, Filipinos had to commute to the parade route and the sidewalks were sparse.

PAFCOM overall chair Bong Pineda said this year's Philippine-American Friendship Day celebration was a success; Co-chair Nelsie Parrado is in agreement. There were definitely more vendors at the BLRT and more people at the sidewalks watching parade marchers and floats pass by. This year instead of people going to the parade, the parade was brought to the people. Filipino-Americans working on Sunday morning at LBC and Sinugba along the parade route populated sidewalks and street corners to cheer on the marchers. The start of the parade was at the corner of Belmont Avenue at Lincoln Park. The ribbon cutting ceremony ended with red, white and blue balloons released into the air. The day started with a few drizzles but the sky cleared up and the sun came out. Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy met PAFCOM Grand Marshals husband and wife Tom and Lida Zabala in front of Maganda Hair Salon. Mayor Healy was donning his hat and matching barong in order to be shielded from the hot sun. By the time the parade ended and the majority of people were at the festival, the temperature had risen to 97 degrees. This did not stop fans of the annual Filipino Idol for cheering for their favorite contestants. One elderly woman had to be sent to the hospital due to extreme heat; there were ambulances on hand ready for any type of emergencies. In place of GMA Pinoy TV star, Rocco Nacino, was Filipina-American pop singer Miss Leesah from Georgia. GMA Pinoy TV emcees asked the crowd if she was ok and they overwhelmingly screamed yes after they heard her perform "Filipina Girl" from her new album "Crush" released in March 2010.

The GMA Pinoy TV tent was fully populated when GMA stars were ready for the autograph signing: Rhian Ramos, Kris Bernal, and Mark "Ultimate Bad Boy of the Dance Floor" Herras. After the meet and greet, the three stars took the stage. Three single men were selected from the audience for an opportunity to go on a date with Kris Bernal. The audience went wild when Mark Herras leaped off the stage and two women had the opportunity to be swooned and stand next to the star. He then approached the main tent where fans took the opportunity to get close and get photographs. The efficient

Balloons were released into the sky after the ribbon cutting at Lincoln Park

Filipina-American Pop Singer Miss Leesah flew to NJ to sign autographs.

97 degree weather did not stop Mark Herras from pleasing fans with dance moves on stage

security team kept control of the large but well-behaved crowd of fans. Their performances made for a memorable day.

All content ©2010 Richard M. Reyes Website: http://www.adecisiontolove.com Email: richluis@adecisiontolove.com

Grand Marshals Tom and Lida Zabala leading the PAFCOM parade along Westside Avenue Mark Herras, Rhian Ramos, & Kris Bernal stop and pose atop

the GMA Pinoy TV Float along West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ.

Rhian Ramos and Kris Bernal pose with a young fan joining them on the GMA Pinoy TV float Rhian Ramos, Kris Bernal, and Mark Herras on the GMA Pinoy TV

Float as they pass the PAFCOM grandstand at the Bergen Light Rail Train Station, Jersey City, NJ