New York Jets to host FilAm Heritage Day on Oct 1
On October 1, the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) will host Filipino American Heritage Day during their 1 p.m. game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in partnership with Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc.’s (UniPro) New York chapter.
This partnership provides discounted tickets for friends and family of the Filipino American community through UniPro, as well as discounted parking passes. Tickets purchased through UniPro will also be entered into a raffle to win field experience passes during the game.
“UniPro is ecstatic that the New York Jets and the NFL are recognizing the Filipino American community,” said Anthony Castro, UniPro NY Vice President. “Events like these not only bring Filipino Americans together, but display the solidarity we strive to achieve in our larger community.”
The New York Jets have shown their commitment to the community by working with cultural groups similar to UniPro to celebrate their heritage throughout the NFL season.
We have seen several players of Filipino heritage in the NFL, including Super Bowl XLVIII champion Doug Baldwin, wide receiver of the Seattle Seahawks, who was selected to the Pro Bowl after his performance last season. Immediately following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, Baldwin ran onto the field in a game against the Minnesota Vikings with the Philippine flag to show support for those affected by the storm. His maternal grandmother grew up in Tacloban.
Perhaps the most famous Filipino that has played in the NFL is former Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, who was born in Manila, where his parents served as missionaries. Tebow has continued his parents’ service in the Philippines by building a children’s hospital in Davao City and with regular visits to the Philippines.
Baldwin and Tebow are two of the most high profile recent NFL players with Filipino heritage, but others include Tedy Bruschi, three-time Super Bowl champion, formerly of the New England Patriots, and Eugene Amano, formerly of the Tennessee Titans.
If you would like to purchase tickets to Filipino American Heritage Day with the New York Jets on October 1st, 300-Level Corner/End Zone Tickets are available at $45 ($98 value) and 200-Level End Zone Tickets are available at $95 ($140 value). Tickets can be purchased by emailing UniPro NY Vice President Anthony Castro at anthony.castro@unipronow.org. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, September 6th.
UniPro is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that envisions a unified and engaged Pilipino America. Founded in 2009, UniPro’s mission is to engage Pilipino Americans through collaboration, advocacy and education. It seeks to transform Pilipino students & young professionals into community leaders through its various programs, which incorporate professional development, history, and policy through the lens of the Pilipino experience. The organization allows Pilipino Americans the opportunity to explore their place in the community in the hope of owning their niche. Ultimately, UniPro asks Pilipino Americans to critically answer, “How do you define Progress?”
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