Filipino Contingent
at Chinese Lunar Parade

February 7, 2004
6 to 9 p.m.
Market Street-Union Square-Chinatown
San Francisco, California

THE COLORFUL Filipino contingent led by the Pistahan Parade and Festival group that won last year's Best Specialty Unit is once again invited to the Chinese New Year Parade scheduled on February 7 starting at 6 p.m. The premier Chinese lunar parade, the longest outside China, features floats, performers and musicians, and community walking contingents celebrating the Year of the Monkey from San Francisco's Market Street to Union Square, ending in Chinatown.

The parade is by invitation and the Filipino contingent has been invited as the sole community representative. The contingent has adopted the festive theme of "Pasko at Bagong Taon: Magbagong Buhay at Magbigayan." The top feature of the troupe will be scores of parols (star-shaped lanterns) that will be lit up like stars. These are from the recent Parol Festival held in South of Market last Christmas and some lanterns are directly imported from the Philippines.

Twenty dancers from Kulturang Pilipino of Stockton will perform the sakuting and wasiwas folk dances and will introduce to San Francisco's parade and TV audiences the now blockbuster Philippine "ocho-ocho" dance steps. The parade will be covered live on KTVU Channel 2 and re-broadcast on KTSF Channel 26. In 2003, the Pistahan contingent featured the Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble and their tinikling dance and they performed before TV cameras under the rain.

The contingent is sponsored by community merchants and organizations such as Mission National Bank, Philippine Children's Fund of America, Serramonte Ford, Irma's Restaurant, New Filipinas Restaurant and the Chinese New Year Parade organizers, among others.

Volunteers and tax-deductible donations are welcome. Members of the community around the Bay Area are also invited to bring their personal parol and join the contingent. They must, however, pre-register by calling +415 9799677 or e-mailing crisemgos@aol.com.