FREEDOM DAY PARADE

The 21st Annual Freedom Days Parade was held on a wonderful Saturday morning, June 28th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The parade drawn a huge crowd, from Coast Highway in Wisconsin Avenue to Civic Center Drive (just past City Hall) in Oceanside, CA. The association, over the years, takes an active participation in this parade to promote the Filipinos’ presence in the community. This is the climax of the June 7th Annual Filipino Cultural Day where participants of Mrs. Fil-Am, Little Miss, Junior Miss Pageant, Cultural Fashion Show and Cultural Dance Groups are viewed by the public once again.

The FACO volunteers are usually at the meeting point as early as 8 AM to decorate the floats and arrange their formation.

The parade started usually in front of the 101 Cafe (Coast Highway at Wisconsin Avenue) at 10:00 a.m. and worked its way north with the first unit of the parade reaching City Hall around 10:45 a.m. Running time from beginning to end was about two hours. FACO parade started with the banner of the association held by members wearing Philippine attire as some participants walked, especially the cultural fashion models to showcase Philippine colorful costumes; while the beauty pageant winners rode their nicely decorated floats. To the delight of the audiecne, Philippine folk dances were performed by the Youth Development Program (YDP) members

Beautiful smiles and poses before and after the parade

WELCOME

PREPARATION FOR THE BIGGEST EVENT
OF THE YEAR 2014

Series of planning sessions between the association and the Oceanside Public Library were held months before the June 7th Cultural Day Celebration. On the day itself, as early as 5:30 in the morning, setting up the stage, putting up chairs, canopies and set-up for the vendors began. It takes a village to put up a big event like this – joint efforts of FACO’s officers, directors and committee members, volunteers and the staff of Oceanside Public Library are needed.

VENDORS

The celebration is not complete without the support of different vendors who sold or promoted their wares and services. There is no way that one will miss the Filipino food as this is very part of the Filipino culture.

THE CELEBRATION BEGINS……..

WELCOME

Another memorable celebration of the FILIPINO CULTURAL DAY, now on its 13th year, was held on June 7, 2014 at the Oceanside Civic Center, Plaza and Library from 10 AM to 4 PM. Thousands of people from all walks of life witnessed and joined in the celebration.

The beautiful morning was welcomed with the singing of the Philippine national anthem “Lupang Hinirang” led by the officers and members of the association. It was followed by a great rendition of “Star Spangled Banner” by well-known performer DEBBIE NICASTRO.

The celebration will not be complete without the opening prayers led by Mr. HARRIS.

The partners for this event – Fil-Am Cultural Association (FACO) and the Oceanside Public Library, are represented by FACO President AMELIA SIVAGE

and Oceanside Public Library Head SHERI COSBY

FACO President AMELIA SIVAGE handed to Oceanside Public Library Head SHERI COSBY the association’s annual donation of $1,000 for the library.

FACO is always grateful to the support and Inspirational talk by Oceanside City Mayor Jim Wood

Other prominent figures in Oceanside community joined Mayor Jim Wood like Oceanside City Council member JERRY KERN and JACK FELLER in congratulating FACO for its 13th year of cultural celebration.

Dra. BELEN CLARK who is a very successful family doctor, great public servant and Hiyas Awardee graced the occasion as the guest speaker.

The program ran smoothly because of the seasoned Master of Ceremonies TED LINTAN working together with other emcees for the different segments of the programme.