Aug 3 is Manuel Quezon Day in Saranac Lake, N.Y.

By Lindy Rosales

August 3 is a momentous date in Saranac Lake in Upstate New York.

For the first time, the village in the Adirondacks Mountains will host a “President Quezon History Day” to remember the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth who passed away at Saranac Lake 80 years ago on August 1, 1944.

Catania marched in the Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue last June 2 together with the HSL organization.  It was her way of getting to know the FilAm community intimately.

“I’m so excited. This is just overwhelming. We’re absolutely thrilled. It’s so exciting to be with here with all of these people, that care about the Filipino culture and history, and we’re learning so much,” she said.  

FilAm couple Kat Hadlow and Ambie Garcinela, who live in nearby Lake Placid, have found out that President Quezon passed away in Saranac Lake. They contacted the HSL organization and were given a private tour. They saw the room where President Quezon had stayed during his last few months.

“It was a room with lots of windows, and he can look out and see the trees and nature outside” said Hadlow. They found a “banig” on the floor which was brought all the way from the Philippines for the former president’s use. Lake Placid is a10 minute-drive to Saranac Lake by car and both are popular tourist destinations for winter sports.

It will be the first “President Quezon History Day” and authentic Filipino food will be served for lunch, prepared by Filipino Americans who live near or around the area, said the organizers. “We hope to do our celebration in Saranac Lake every year,” said Catania.

HSL hosted an online discussion last June 12 about Quezon and Philippine history with writer Luis Francia and grandson Manuel Luis Casas Quezon III among the panel’s speakers.   

The Manuel Quezon Day is a street festival featuring the following:

• Street fair with Filipino food, vendors, and musical performances
• Dance performances to be held at Harrietstown Town Hall
• Filipino-inspired cuisine available at the Hotel Saranac throughout the weekend
• Cultural and Museum Exhibits: Featuring two dance groups and special museum exhibits.

HSL will present a special exhibit about President Quezon, and a video recording of a tour of Camp Massapequa, where he had stayed.

According to the Camp Massapequa history on Localwiki.org, “Manuel Quezon, the president of the Philippines, came to Saranac Lake in June 1943 and again in June 1944. He had been invited by President Franklin Roosevelt to establish a government in exile in Washington, DC, but Quezon had tuberculosis and was looking for a better summer climate.”

The August 3 event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Village of Saranac Lake, Downtown.