Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Some 300 Filipinos, several well-established Philippine firms as well as homegrown companies in the UAE have joined forces to come up with the first-ever privatized Philippine Independence Day (PID) celebrations on June 5 (Friday).

“We will go by the decision of the government (with regards public health issues),” Jason Roi Bucton said, however, on Gulf Today’s enquiry on the global pandemic Coronavirus 2019, which have the probability to last for months.

“If there is a need to postpone, we would. But, definitely, we would celebrate (our country’s freedom from Spain). Even if it were delayed,” Lance Japor interjected.

Bucton and Japor are the designated chairman and vice-chairman respectively, of the landmark “by the Filipino Community, for the Filipino Community” 122nd PID festivities, a departure from the previous annual celebrations co-organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.

Bucton and Japor, alongside PID2020 Organizing Committee-Communications head Conrado Quizon and Red & Beryl Event Management LLC owner Josie Conlu, met with officials of the participating Philippine schools, companies, and volunteers from Dubai and the Northern Emirates, as well as the press at the “Unang Sigaw!” (First Cry!) formal launching of the “Kalayaan 2020” (“Freedom 2020”) on Wednesday evening in Dubai.

They announced segments of the program, calendared from 9 a.m. till early evening at the Sheikh Rashid Hall of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The celebrations will center on the theme “Iisa Tayo” (“We Are One”).

The segments, which for the first-time are non-competitive, as the organizers “do not believe in competitions,” are “Piyestang Filipino” featuring interpretations of the major Filipino festivals such as Panagbenga, Sinulog and Kadayawan by the Philippine schools; “Mga Sayaw Natin,” a rendition of indigenous folk dances like Carinosa, Tinikling, Itik-Itik, Singkil, and Kuradang by Filipinos residing in Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.

Top Filipino modern dancers will exhibit their skills in “Sayaw Kontemporaryo” while the grandmasters in various singing competitions will belt out Original Pilipino Music at the “Himig at Awit.”

“Indak” is the hip-hop showdown, “Makabataan/Balagtasan” is spoken poetry while “Historya” are the “Alamat” (legends) and “Pabula” (fables) presented by kids.

 Feted will be deserving individuals through the “Dakilang Bayani Awards 2020.” Top fashion designers will display their creativeness and artisan-ship by way of the “Ystilo at Moda” fashion show.