Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

LOS ANGELES – Filipinos came from every part of Southern California. One Pinoy even came as far as New York City to celebrate the Los Angeles Lakers 15th NBA Championship.

"We got to celebrate the Lakers championship and do some representing from New York City," said Ted Martinez, wearing a black and yellow shirt with the Lakers logo emblazoned in the middle.

Martinez was one of hundreds of Pinoys, who took the day off Wednesday and celebrated the Lakers victory.

"I want to say something to the Lakers," said Mila Baluan of Woodland Hills. "We have been praying for them and that’s why they won. We are Filipino and we love the Lakers."

There was a lot of talk before the parade that Los Angeles might not have a championship parade because of the city’s budget deficit. The estimated cost of the parade was $2 million dollars.

However, LA City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said that private donor and the LA Lakers contributed to the cost of the parade

"Look from the beginning we said we were going to have a parade that’s where we had to start and we weren’t going to be responding to all the naysayers," he said. "There are more than a hundred thousand people here today that means more than a hundred thousand people at a minimum wanted a parade today and we made it happen."

LAPD Police Chief Bill Bratton said two thousand of LA’s finest officers were on patrol to control the hundreds of thousands of people celebrating.

Despite the large officer presence, fans were basking in the championship moment.