Atlanta‘s Filipino community held its sixth annual independence day celebration June 12, hosting a former president of the Philippines and honoring a businessman for his local leadership.
The Kalayaan celebration, organized by the Honorary Consulate of the Philippines in Georgia, brought together about 350 attendees from around the state and region for a dinner highlighting the country’s 115th anniversary of freedom from Spanish rule.
Fidel V. Ramos, president of the Philippines from 1992-98, was among the honored guests, as were Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall and members of the consular corps. See coverage of Mr. Ramos’ previous visits.
Willy Blanco, a regional sales manager for Beckart Environmental Inc. in Atlanta, received the Filipino Outstanding Community Leader in Georgia for 2013 from Honorary Consul General Ray Donato.
Mr. Blanco was instrumental in organizing the inaugural Kalayaan celebration in 2007, which was attended by then-Ambassador Willy Gaa.
For Global Atlanta coverage of Mr. Gaa’s visit to the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia dinner in 2008, click here.
To connect with the Filipino community, visit http://www.globalatlanta.comdirectory/#Philippines.
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