A traditional tuk-tuk, or tricycle, is driven through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Filipino Americans across Southern California celebrated Philippine Independence Day in June, with events promoting unity and patriotism.
In Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown, a lively festival Sunday was organized by community groups and the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. It was the first time the event was officially held in Historic Filipinotown — a neighborhood west of downtown and south of Echo Park bordered by the 101 Freeway to the north and Beverly Boulevard to the south — which organizers say is regarded as the birthplace of the Filipino American community of Los Angeles.
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A woman rides in a traditional tuk-tuk, or tricycle, in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Edgar Badajos, welcomes guests to the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Aida Jugo rides through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Spectators line West Temple Street in Historic Filipinotown during the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Youngsters cheer on participants in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Ruby Staley of Highland Park, a former Miss Mindanao, rides through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A traditional tuk-tuk, or tricycle, is driven through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
People attend the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A motorcyclist rides in the community parade at the Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The president of the National Alliance of Filipino-Americans in Palm Springs, Isabel Trinidad Chapman, right, strolls through the Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
People attend the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Edgar Badajos, center, appears with guests at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Celebrants attend the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants ride through Historic Filipinotown in the community parade at the 125th Philippine Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sunday’s event celebrated 125 years of independence with a motorcade parade around the neighborhood, featuring grand marshal and community leader Grace Ouano. Other dignitaries listed to attend included Philippine Consul General Edgar B. Badajos, L.A. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, L.A. Public Works Commissioner Susanna Reyes and elected Filipino-American officials.
After the parade, a community festival included cultural and musical performances, vendor booths, a fashion show, and an appearance from Filipino movie icon Gabby Concepcion.
The June 12 Independence Day celebrates “the Filipino diaspora in the United States,” said Maria Alnee Gamble, deputy consul general for the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, before the event. It’s seen “as a way to remind Filipinos of our forebears, who fought for our rights and freedoms and to keep their sense of patriotism burning, despite living in a foreign land.”
Philippine Independence Day community events and celebrations were also held in Irvine and Carson this month.
