Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) 2018 Gala Celebration Hails a Success!

Now on its 43^rd year anniversary celebration in the Chicagoland area, this year’s memorable patriotic celebration by nostalgic Filipinos away from the Motherland, has been labeled a great success under the leadership of the indefatigable Lourdes Mon, a retired educator and community leader.  PIWC’s various activities in the whole month of June (June 12^th is the exact date of the historical signing of the Philippine Independence in 1898) involved projects ranging from the youth to the seniors, and in between genre of the celebrators.

The PIWC, founded in 1975 under the auspices of the then Consul General Rodolfo Sanchez (deceased) of the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago, has evolved through the years from its annual gala balls to celebrate the occasion….these days, we always look forward to the cultural noontime program at the Daley Center, the flag raising day, the annual community picnic, the essay writing contest for the youth, the senior citizen day, health-o-rama, rigodon de honor,  bowling tournament, the coronation of PIWC beauty queens, and the culmination at the appreciation night.

The 2018 PIWC Executive Officers that worked hard with Lourdes Mon for the success of the gala event are the following: Executive Adviser Faye Mendiola (currently Board of Trustees President), Recording Secretary Vishnu Mahant, Corresponding Secretary Myrna Mahant, Treasurer Rhodora Cava, Asst. Treasure Natividad Dilay, and Auditor Leilani Magana, Advisers Vic Benig, Art Dilay, and several committee chairs and members. Edwin Pineda is the elected PIWC Overall Chairperson for 2019, and Lourdes Livas is the Immediate Past Chair 2017.

The most anticipated 2018 PIWC Beauty Queens coronation highlighted this gala event, with the following parade of beauties: Danielle Austriaco (Miss Philippines); Angeline Francisco (Mrs. Philippines); Isabelle Austriaco (Miss Chicago); Cristina Agus (Mrs. Chicago); Rozel Camille Gracia (Miss Illinois; Doreen Coriana (Mrs. Illinois); Kristina Bianca Mallari (Miss PIWC); and Edith Ilagan (Mrs. PIWC).

Atty. Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, and currently running for the post of Attorney General, served as the guest speaker.

Lourdes Mon, PIWC Overall Chairperson 2018

Deputy Consul Rumulo Israel delivering his speech.

Edwin Pineda, Overall-elect Chairperson 2019

Lourdes Livas, Immediate Past Chairperson 2017

The 2018 newly-crowned PIWC queens with their respective escorts, holding their sceptres and bouquets of flowers (headed by Mrs. Philippines Angie Francisco and Miss Philippines Danielle Austriaco).

Posting of Colors: US Navy, Great Lakes

Left to right: Francis Mon,Lourdes Mon, Angie Francisco and Atty. Erika Harold, guest speaker

Tinikling folk dance number performed by Robert Chavez and Flor Castil, co-chairs, PIWC kick-off committee.

Traditional Rigodon de Honor of PIWC officers and committee members. Singkil

Singkil dance number with participation from PIWC queens and committee members.

Atty. Erika Harold, Miss America 2003 Guest Speaker

Olivia Trinquand, Guest Singer Entertainer of the Year, Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame 2017

Kayla Tejero, Guest Singer