Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

The New York City Council has issued a proclamation declaring June 21 this year and every third Sunday of June thereafter as Bayanihan Day.

Thousands of Filipinos and Filipino Americans attended the whole-day festival, the first ever celebration of Philippine Independence Day held in the heart of the Filipino community in Queens. Among the five boroughs of New York City, Queens has the largest Filipino population.

In the proclamation, the City Council commended the festival organizers, the Philippine Forum and the Bayanihan Filipino Community Center, for their efforts "to foster community spirit within the Filipino American community and to forge solidarity with the larger immigrant community."

"This year’s theme for the first annual Bayanihan Cultural Festival, ‘Building community. Celebrating diversity. Forging solidarity’, best captures not only the aspirations of the Filipino community, but also the hopes and dreams of the Council for the city as well," the City Council also said in the proclamation.

The organizers said they are honored by the City Council’s gesture. "This is a recognition of the Filipino community’s contribution to New York City’s economic growth and cultural diversity," said Julia Camagong, co-executive director of the Philippine Forum.