As 2015 Grand Marshal, Reuben Seguritan seeks to present ‘united, empowered’ community

Lawyer Reuben S. Seguritan was unanimously voted the Grand Marshal for next year’s Philippine Independence Day Parade commemorating the 117th anniversary of the declaration of the country’s Independence.

Reuben was the founding president of Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) when it was incorporated on February 14, 2002. PIDCI is known to organize the biggest independence day parade outside of the Philippines. Reuben also co-founded the Filipino American Human Services, Inc., an organization that provides social services to disadvantaged Filipinos. Although he is known as an immigration lawyer, Reuben also practices corporate, matrimonial, and property law.

“I’m greatly honored and humbled. It is one of the most coveted positions of leadership in our community,” he said in a statement issued to The FilAm. “I look forward to working with the PIDCI officers, board members and volunteers to make next year’s parade even bigger than the last so we can make a strong statement to this city and this country that we are a strong, united and empowered community.”

Reuben was presented to the community during a recent PIDCI holiday dinner held at the residence of Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. and attended by leaders of organizations that are affiliated with the council.

He has served as general counsel of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, the Association of Philippine Physicians in America, the Philippine Nurses Association of America, and PNA New York, the Philippine Medical Association in America, and other local organizations.

He was among the early recipients of the highly coveted Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Awards bestowed by the Office of the President of the Philippines. He received the award in 1991 from President President Fidel V. Ramos, for “contributions which have significantly benefited a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.” He received another presidential award in 1993.

He was editor of the Philippine Law Journal, the Philippine Law Register and five other publications when he was a student at UP. A prolific writer, he published “We Didn’t Pass Through the Golden Door,” a book of essays on the plight of Filipinos overseas who have been treated, in his own words, as “objects of discrimination and legal oppression.” He has published numerous articles in law journals and has written columns for community newspapers, such as the Filipino Reporter; and The Filipino Express and the Hawaii-Filipino Chronicle.

Reuben is married to Corazon Magsuci Seguritan, a board certified pediatrician. They have two sons, Frederick and Reuben Anthony.