For a genuinely Pinoy experience, there should’ve been a barker too!
READ: What it’s like to be a jeepney barker
As part of the Philippine Independence day celebrations in New York, Black Eyed Peas singer and The Voice Philippines former coach Apl.de.Ap brought a Sarao-made jeepney to the streets of the Big Apple on Sun, Jun 5.
Filipinos, coming mostly from the East Coast state, took over nearly 15 blocks of Madison Avenue for the fiesta-style celebration.
The blue and yellow jeepney was paraded to showcase Filipino culture in line with the Department of Tourism’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. In addition to the jeepney, Filipino festivals such as the Maskara and the Dinagyang were also showcased.
Looks like Apl.de.Ap genuinely enjoys his role as tourism ambassador. During the parade, he donned a barong complete with Pinoy-inspired bling. He also gave his usual high-energy performance, which the crowd cheered for.
Apl.de.Ap was handpicked by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to promote tourism for the Philippines. Last May, he hosted a group of Filipino-American influencers in a week-long tour of the Philippines meant to encourage millennials to visit the country.
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Congratulations on the successful Independence Day parade and tourism campaign!
