MORE than a dozen Filipino associations in Taiwan are helping the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in the preparations leading up to the 110th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Taipei, scheduled on June 15.

Antonio Basilio, Meco managing director and resident representative, said the office has decided to hold the event, which is celebrated on June 12,  on June 15, a Sunday, to give the more than 90,000 Filipinos in Taiwan the opportunity to participate in the annual revelry.

Many Filipino workers in Taiwan are free on Sundays according to Basilio.

“We are offering our Independence Day celebration to our hard-working workers in Taiwan. I believe that a day of music, dance and entertainment is a fitting tribute to our country’s modern-day heroes,” said Basilio.

The fiesta, the largest celebration hosted by Meco in Taiwan annually, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Da-an Park, in downtown Taipei.

The community organizations that will take a lead role in the celebration include the Aguman Capampangan, Bicol Association, Bugkos (another Bicolano group), Confederation of Ilocano Associations, Cordillera Organization in Taiwan, Filipinos Married to Taiwanese Association, Hsinchuang Filipino Community, Ilan Community, Kapulungan ng Samahang Pilipino, Migrante International, The Migrants, OFW Family Club-Taiwan Chapter, Pundok Bisaya International, Samahang Makata International-Taiwan Chapter, Tamsui Filipino Community, and the Visayas-Mindanao Association in Taiwan.

“These Filipino organizations have never ceased to impress Meco. I find their resourcefulness and ingenuity astounding. Last year they produced astonishing cultural presentations. Their performance and contributions to the show were totally unexpected and very impressive. Their schedules, particularly those working at factories, did not even jibe, and yet they were able to deliver exceptional performance,” said Basilio.

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IN accordance with the 110th Independence Day celebration today, the north and southbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard in Manila from Katigbak to T.M. Kalaw Streets will be closed at exactly 6 a.m.

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MORE than a dozen Filipino associations in Taiwan are helping the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in the preparations leading up to the 110th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Taipei, scheduled on June 15.