Pinoy Independence Worldwide: Filipinos in KL to paint the town red

MANILA, Philippines – As the month of June started, so did the Independence season for Filipinos worldwide. Parties and various ways of celebrating Filipino freedom are set to stop other nationalities on their tracks and make them want to join in on the fun.

In true, Pinoy fashion, Filipinos in Malaysia are set to celebrate the commemoration of our freedom through a fiesta that’s been highly anticipated in the Malaysian capital for the past couple of years.

The Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur will be holding Fiesta sa Embahada 2014 on June 8 where Filipinos as well as Malaysians can experience Filipino culture first hand.

“This is a much-awaited time for the Filipino-Malaysian community to gather and celebrate our Freedom Day. It is also an opportunity for us to share our culture with Malaysians and for them to see why ‘it’s more fun in the Philippines,’” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya said.

A mass will be celebrated at the St. John’s Cathedral in Jalan Bukit Nanas at 8 am followed by the annual Filipino-Malaysia Community Parade starting at Jalan Kia Peng.

The annual parade organized by the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM), is expected to draw in some 1,500 participants and will traverse Kuala Lumpur’s premiere commercial centers along Jalan Bukit Bintang, the city’s major shopping and tourist destination.

Filipino Jonathan Yabut, the first winner of The Apprentice Asia and now serving as Malaysian business mogul Tony Fernandes’ apprentice, will also be an honorary grand marshall for this year’s parade, along with popular singer-artist Maria Jaszmine. (WATCH: How Jonathan Yabut won ‘Apprentice Asia’)

The fiesta will continue at the Chancery grounds where Filipino food, games, music and a program will be showcased, along with talents of Filipino community members.

The Filipino Independence Day celebration is a highly anticipated event in Malaysia. Just last year, around 2,000 Filipinos and Malaysians gathered in costumes representing the Philippines’ ethnic groups, while 12 floats from Malaysian companies and Filipino community organizations also joined the parade. It was also a celebration of color and music, as the groups sang and danced as they proudly marched down the streets of Kuala Lumpur, stopping passers-by in their tracks as they took out their camera phones to take photos and videos of the parade.

A Filipino Food Showcase featuring 3 chefs who will be flown in for the occasion by Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral Hotel will also be held in Kuala Lumpur, followed by a Filipino Food Fair the next day. (READ: Ambassador as tour guide: 112 Malaysians discover PH)

The Bayanihan Dance Troupe will be making its way back to Malayssia on June 12 for a follow-up on their well-applauded 2009 performance for the same event. This event, however, will be for a by-invitation crowd composed of members of the diplomatic corps, the Malaysian-Filipino business community, and select members of the Filipino community. 

“In its almost 60 years of existence, the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company is one of our enduring cultural ambassadors, as their level of performance has not just enriched the Philippine dance scene, but also brought honor and pride to the Philippines and its people. It is our honor to bring the best of Philippine folk dance to Malaysians,” Malaya said. “Everyone is excited to see the Bayanihan, as we are getting positive responses from our invitees. Some are also asking if they could be invited for the show,” he added.

Filipinos in Kuching, Sarawak need not worry as they will also have a chance to see the dance troupe at a benefit show on June 14 for the benefit of Soroptomist International of Kuching. The performance will be held at the Imperial Grand Ballroom 2 of Imperial Hotel at 7:30 pm.

Here’s the schedule of public events in Kuala Lumpur for Filipinos and Malaysians who’d like to experience Filipino culture first hand:

– Rappler.com