Sam Milby and Geneva Cruz will be Performing

The greater Chicago’s biggest Filipino American festival in celebration of the Philippine Independence Day returns to Bolingbrook for the second year this summer. Join us for a massive 12-hour festival, Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the sprawling Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center, next to the Bolingbrook Village Hall and Town Center.

Piyesta Pinoy, or Philippine Fest, is an annual celebration and showcase of Filipino heritage and culture. It features a variety of cultural and fun activities for all generations such as live music and dance from both contemporary and folk performers, authentic Filipino cuisine, cultural exhibits, arts & crafts, train ride, rock climbing, pabitin and other children’s games, a hip-hop dance competition, a costume parade, children’s activities and educational workshops. Last year’s official attendance is 4,500 over a 12 hour non-stop entertainment schedule that featured a famous celebrity artist from the Philippines (Dingdong Dantes), four musical bands plus a main stream country singer (Andrew Salgado), several local cultural music and dance groups among the performers. Mayor Roger Claar of Bolingbrook and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White along with the Jesse White tumblers were also in attendance.

This year, Piyesta Pinoy Bolingbrook is expecting to attract an even bigger crowd as we welcome The Filipino Channel as our exclusive Philippines media partner and sponsor. Fil-Am actor Sam Milby and Filipina actress/singer Geneva Cruz will be coming to town and will be performing during the TFC hour portion of the festival. The Philippines’ ‘Rockcoustic Heartthrob’, Sam Milby is an established actor and multiawarded singer who became very popular as a Pinoy Big Brother housemate, a singer with several sold-out concerts and Platinum albums, an actor of top-rating TV soaps (including Maging Sino Ka Man with John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo and Anne Curtis, which launched his career as a dramatic television actor), blockbuster movies and big product endorsements to his name. Geneva Cruz is an award winning actress and singer. Cruz began her career in 1989 as one of the lead singers of the popular group Smokey Mountain. She was also the very first Grand Prize winner (and the youngest) of “The Voice of Asia” in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, Russia in 1992.

In addition to the TFC hour, there will be many other local singers, dancers, musicians and artists who will be performing at the beautiful state-of-the-art Bolingbrook performing arts stage. We are also calling on all group dancers of all dance styles! We are looking for Chicagoland’s Best PP Dance Crew! If your group has what it takes to live up to the title, register now and submit a video for review. Please visit our website for the dance contest rules, the complete lineup of entertainers and the schedule of performances. There will also be more vendors who are joining the piyesta this year; we will have at least ten food vendors selling all sorts of Filipino favorite foods from adobo and pansit to halo-halo, Magnolia ice cream and Goldilocks ensaymada.

Applications for sponsors, partners, donors, business and cultural booth tables are now open. We are also looking for lots of volunteers to help with logistics, security, first aid, children’s activities and other miscellaneous tasks during the day of the event. Please visit us online at http://piyestapinoy.org/ and http://www.piyestapinoy.net/ for details. Kitakits po tayo doon! Piyesta Pinoy sa Bolingbrook (Philippine Fest) is bring brought to you by the Philippine American Cultural Foundation in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago and the Village of Bolingbrook.

 

SECRETARY DEL ROSARIO CALLS ON US TO GIVE MORE FOCUS TO SCS DEVT’S, SUBSTANTIATE ASIA REBALANCE POLICY

WASHINGTON D.C. – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario called on the United States to urgently give more focus to recent developments in the South China Sea and provide substance to its Asia rebalance policy.

At the launch of the USPhilippines Strategic Initiative (USPSI) today, May 12, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., the Secretary said that the Philippines remains supportive of the US Government’s rebalance towards Asia.

The US-Philippines Strategic Initiative, a joint project by CSIS and the ADR Institute, aims to highlight the enduring alliance “through sustainable and strategic engagement on highimpact global and regional issues.” It is expected to produce policy recommendations that would enable the Philippines-US alliance to effectively deal with current political and economic realities.

Secretary Del Rosario lauded the effort in his written remarks, describing it as “deliberate, timely, and time-bound.”

“At the core of this Initiative is the realization that the United States must remain an active player in strengthening the regional architecture for stability, security and development. The Philippines, in turn, contributes to and has an important role to play in maintaining that regional stability,” the Secretary emphasized.

The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in Asia. In recent years, the two countries have been closely working together to reinvigorate their bilateral relations within the context of the US rebalance policy and in light of new issues that have far-reaching implications for the region’s security and progress. Among these issues are the maritime disputes plaguing the region, including those that concern the South China Sea.

Secretary Del Rosario agreed with the expressed belief that the South China Sea dispute is considered as the most important issue in the world today. He stressed that, “The goals of the US and China are so diametrically opposed, the outcome of the contest is capable of impacting international order.”

The Philippines is advocating a peaceful settlement of the disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law. This position has generated broad support from the United States and the rest of the international community.

The Secretary also underscored the economic and people-topeople ties that bind the Philippines and the United States as strongly as their cooperation in the field of defense and security.

The audience was composed of around 150 people, including CSIS fellows, Philippine and US government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and media representatives. He was joined in the panel by Mr. William Cohen, Chairman and CEO of The Cohen Group, a global consultancy firm. Mr. Ernest Bower, Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies and co-director of the Pacific Partners Initiative at CSIS, moderated the discussion.

The Secretary last visited CSIS in September 2012 during the “The Philippines Conference”.

After the launch of the USPSI, Secretary Del Rosario proceeded to a reception in honor of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus in the US Capitol. He reiterated to US legislators the vital role of the Philippines-US alliance in preserving peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. The Secretary then briefed the Caucus members on Philippine issues, including the recent developments in the South China Sea, the post- Haiyan rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts and the status of the Filipino communities across the US.

“It is through the tireless efforts of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus that bilateral relations gain more meaning and relevance to peoples’ lives,” Secretary Del Rosario remarked.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert D. del Rosario and US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Birken pose for a photo before their meeting
on the state of Phil-US bilateral share on May 12, 2015 at the U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.

 

ComEd, Chicago Park District help Chicago #SwitchOnSummer2015 Buckingham Fountain turned on to mark official start of summer

Chicago has officially made the switch to summer! ComEd and the Chicago Park District recently turned on Buckingham Fountain with a celebration of live entertainment and fun for all ages. In addition to educational activities and membership raffles hosted by participating partners – including the Museum of Science & Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Children’s Museum – the event featured performances by 7th Heaven, the Soul Children of Chicago, and the Joffrey Ballet; along with energy-efficiency tips, games and activities provided by ComEd. Pictured, during #SwitchOnSummer2015: The Nitzschke family of Northbrook did the honors of turning on Buckingham Fountain at #SwitchOnSummer2015.

ComEd SVP Fidel Marquez (left) joins the Nitzschke family of Northbrook, Chicago TV reporter Ana Beleval (center) and members of
the ComEd family to #SwitchOnSummer2015.