April 23, 2008
FIRST ASIAN GRAND PARADE IN BERGENFIELD JOINED BY ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE COUNCIL OF NJ AND FILIPINO HERITAGE FOUNDATION

::Link to Article

The month of May was designated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In conjunction with the annual celebration of its culture and heritage, the Asian Americans organize festivities all over the United States.

Press Release: April 23, 2008
Asian American Heritage Council of NJ, Inc.
The Asian American Heritage Council of NJ, Inc. and the Filipino Heritage Council of NJ, Inc. will jointly celebrate the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Both organizations are state’s non-profit groups and its mission is to celebrate their rich culture and heritage. The Asian American Heritage Council of NJ, Inc. will celebrate its 15th Annual Asian American Celebration Gala. The Filipino Heritage Foundation, Inc. will celebrate its 8th Annual Gabi Ng Parangal and Coronation Ball. This year’s Gala will be hosted by Filipino Heritage Foundation, Inc. to be held on Saturday, May 3, 2008 from 6:00PM to 1:00 AM at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel, East Rutherford, NJ. The Asian American Heritage Council of NJ, Inc. is a group representing the interests of diverse Asian American ethnic community in New Jersey, dedicated in celebrating Asian American ethnicity as well as unification of the multitude of Asian American communities in the State. The Filipino Heritage Foundation, Inc.’s goal is to promote awareness of Filipino American contributions to social, economic, cultural and other aspects of life of the Filipinos residing in the United States of America.

The Asian Pacific American Heritage Gala Banquet Celebration is the main celebratory event showcasing a wide variety of Asian American cultures and talents from New Jersey’s Asian American ethnic groups. This year’s celebration will be hosted by the Filipino Heritage Foundation, Inc. Each Asian community takes turns for the annual celebration. The Banquet also serves as the venue to honor Distinguished Asian Americans who have made significant contributions to our nation and whose achievements and community service serves as an example for others to emulate. The Banquet serves to unify this State’s Asian American groups as well as to empower each of these communities and individuals. The Banquet also is a pivotal networking and community-building event, viewed by many as the single opportunity each year to get together with Asian American friends and colleagues from a diverse Asian American groups.

Both organizations coalesced to have its First Asian Pacific American Cultural Heritage Parade and Festival. The joint celebrations will feature a Grand Parade with participation by Asian Americans in the tri-state area. All will showcase their ethnic attires from their country of origin with many Asian traditional performances through music and dance, exhibits, games and many more. Other activities will include a food fair, health fair, children’s fair and Asian Cuisines will also be featured. The First Asian Pacific American Cultural Heritage Parade and Festival will be held on Sunday, June 1, 2008. The parade and festival will run from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The parade will be graced by our First Grand Parade Ambassador of Goodwill and Culture, 1st2nd Mortgage Company and tentatively our First Honorary Grand Marshal, the Honorable Jon S. Corzine, Governor of the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey politicians as well as our Asian American elected and appointed officials will be joining the parade to be headed by the Governor of the State of New Jersey , the Honorable Jon S. Corzine (invited).

The GRAND PARADE starts at 11:00 AM at the corner of Washington Avenue and Clinton Avenue in Bergenfield, NJ Bergen County. The Grand Parade will end at the National Guard Armory, 1799 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, New Jersey.

We cordially invite you to witness this historic Grand Parade and Festival. Our Asian elected and appointed officials, the New Jersey elected officials as well as dignitaries from Asian countries will be joining us on this first Grand Parade.

Moreover the Gala Banquet Celebration, the Grand Parade and the Street Fair & Festival will not happen without the support of our generous Corporate Sponsors like Western Union, PSE&G, Northwest Airlines, Garden State Travel and many more signing up to support the event as the event is getting closer.

For more information about these events please call the following: Ludi Hughes (201) 841-3070, Andrew Pappachen (201)401-3955, George James (201)446-6597, Buddy Deauna-(201)501-8388, Lito Pernia-(201)658-0476, Nimfa Tinana – (908)494-4014, Rose Hwang-(201) 281-3935, Mac Villapando – (631)331-2441, Dr. Michael Yeun-(201) 261-7337, Jonathan Kim-(201) 398-5229, Dung Nguyen-(856)266-3656, Vicki Chen-(201)599-2085, Dr. M. Ali Chaudry-(908)484-7211.