Philippine National Day – PND
By Lourdes Marzan
KDP worked to commemorate the Filipino people’s declaration of independence from Spain in June 12, 1898. To celebrate the occasion, KDP helped to organize Philippine National Day (PND) events throughout the US. From San Diego, Los Angeles, SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Seattle, Honolulu, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Vancouver, Toronto and New York, KDP activists help to launch these celebrations. The events helped to build cohesion in the community and offered an opportunity for KDP activists to disseminate their social justice message among Filipinos in the US.
In New York, KDP joined with members of the Filipino community to form the Philippine National Day Committee (PNDC). Every year around June 12, the PNDC would organize a big fiesta complete with banderitas (paper buntings) and the scent of pork barbecue.
Hundreds of people from the community would go to the location – usually a New York park – some dressed in native costume, to celebrate Philippine culture and independence. There would be food stalls, children’s games, amateur contests, prizes, and a program featuring various aspects of the culture – people singing kundimans (Filipino ballads), reciting poems, presenting comedy skits, as well as groups singing songs of struggle.
Philippine National Day has become part of the fabric of the Filipino community in New York and is still celebrated around June 12 today. PND celebrations also continue throughout the US.
