Albany celebrates 126th anniversary of Philippine Independence

For the second consecutive year, the Filipino community gathered at the New York State Capitol in Albany on June 4th to commemorate the 126th Philippine Independence Day.

This event, co-organized by the Office of Assemblymember Steven Raga and the Philippine Consulate General in New York, highlights the enduring and strong bonds between New York State and the Filipino community, according to organizers.

The day began with a floor introduction in the Assembly Chamber. Assemblymember Raga, the first-ever Filipino and Southeast Asian American to be elected to office in New York State, introduced the Filipino American community and recognized the presence of Consul General Senen Mangalile, special guests, and the delegation from the Philippine province of Misamis Oriental, including their Kuyamis Festival dancers.

Afterward, a brief meeting with Assembly Deputy Speaker Philip Ramos took place in the Assembly Parlor Room following the official floor introduction. During this meeting, Deputy Speaker Ramos reiterated his interest in sending a New York State legislative delegation to the Philippines to explore mutual opportunities.

The celebration continued at the Well of the Legislative Office Building with a vibrant cultural program featuring performances by various Filipino American community members and organizations. The program included singing performances by Azia Sky Barao, Carla Mongado, Luz Sanchez, and Raffy Tragico from the band Brown Sugar, as well as a dance presentation by the Kuyamis Festival dancers. Attendees also enjoyed Filipino food, prepared by Kusina Resto, a local Albany food caterer.

The program also featured greeting messages from several state legislators, including the New York State Asian Pacific American Task Force Co-Chair Zohran Mamdani, and Assemblymembers Harvey Epstein, Emily Gallagher, and Jenifer Rajkumar. Deputy Director of Asian American Affairs Sibu Nair from the Office of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and Director of Asian American Affairs Adam Chen of the Office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James also delivered messages of support, on behalf of their principals.

Later that day, the New York State Assembly adopted a resolution memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim June 12th, 2024, as Philippine Independence Day in New York State; this resolution was sponsored by Assemblymember Kenneth Zebrowski and cosponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga.

“It is an honor to serve in the state legislature and be able to celebrate the rich heritage and vibrant culture of the Filipino community in New York State…I am immensely proud to represent such a dynamic and resilient community, not only in Assembly District 30 but throughout the state. Together, we will continue to build bridges of understanding and collaboration, ensuring that everywhere we go–our voices are heard, and our presence is felt,” said Raga.

“Two short days ago, we saw the streets of Manhattan fill up with signs, colors, sounds, and dancing. Yes, it was a testament to the Filipino People’s indefatigable spirit. But today, the Filipinos are bringing it inside the halls of the New York State Legislature: Different venues, but nonetheless, the same spirit. The difference, I suppose, is that the celebration here at the State Today we are sending a clear message that our celebration of the 126 years of the Declaration of Philippine Independence is our determined efforts to keep the ‘Filipino Voice’ alive and kicking in these halls and beyond. Ultimately, Kalayaan 1521 Council believes that as we continue to show the world that we can unite and rally behind a common cause to support each other, then it becomes evident that Filipinos have the ability to align and make each other stronger. On behalf of Kalayaan 1521 Council; maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan at mabuhay po tayong lahat!” said Sol Kapunan, president of Kalayaan 1521 Council Inc.

“As we gather for the second year at the state capitol to commemorate the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, the historic halls of the Legislative Office Building again bear witness to the strong bonds between the Filipino community and the great state of New York. We celebrate under the theme ‘Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.’ – ‘Freedom. Future. History.’ – which echoes the spirit of the Katipunan, whose bravery and patriotism laid the foundation for the freedom the Philippines now enjoys. I call on the Filipino community in New York to draw inspiration from the Katipunan’s courage as we work together to build a prosperous and united future for a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines),” said Consul General Senen Mangalile.