(GRAND MARSHAL GALA NIGHT. The Philippine Independence Day Council Inc., officially confers and designate Dr. Irineo “Bong” G. Alvaro (5th from left, in sash) as the Honorary Grand Marshal for the upcoming 121st PH Independence Day Parade in New York City on June 2. Contributed Photo)
NEW YORK CITY, USA – Pampanga-based businessman engaged in resort and hotel industry was honored during the Grand Marshal Gala Night hosted by the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc.,(PIDCI) recently at the Hilton Hotel Ballroom, New Jersey.
The honoree was formally introduced by Jeffrey Del Mundo, a promising young entrepreneur and co-founder of MEDAL Consortium.
Aside from acknowledging the honor in his acceptance speech, Dr. Irineo “Bong” G. Alvaro paid homage to past and present heroes, his humble beginnings and to his pride-tribe: The Filipino Race.
“The fact that I stand before you, being the son of a village carpenter receiving this prestigious recognition is a great example of what freedom stands for. I grew up in abject poverty and when we were young, my father dreamt of a bigger, larger than life future for us six siblings”, Alvaro shared.
Alvaro, a self-made man also described in his speech the relevance of what freedom truly means for him. His father was even compared to a lupisak (Kapampangan vernacular for lizard) for embracing the unreachable.
“My father “Apung Neung a lupisak” as he is fondly called in the neighborhood showed us the way from impossible to possible, the way to freedom: freedom to dream, freedom to work and freedom to achieve it” Alvaro stressed.
An accomplished, philanthropic and modest man with a myriad of distinction in both his private and public life, he paid tribute to the independence hardly fought by the forefathers.
“I am a product of a hard earned independence as are all of us Filipinos. But, first and foremost, I stand before you as a proud Filipino, afforded with the opportunity of freedom fought for before our fathers. I am deeply glad to celebrate with you tonight this freedom and our independence day this coming June. Thank you for this great honor ” Alvaro ended.
The Independence Day Parade Honorary Grand Marshal is one of the highest honors bestowed by PIDCI annually to an individual. The title recognizes an exceptionally outstanding person whose contributions have positively impacted the local community and the greater community as well.
MIREJ Resort Hotel US Roadshow
On the fringes of the ceremony, the MIREJ group led by Dr. Alvaro met with notable leaders of Filipino – American (Fil-AM) organizations from the Big Apple as the first leg of its US Roadshow.
Alvaro presented Clark as a world-class tourism destination to Filipino businessmen and investors from the East coast.
“MIREJ Clark is a luxury you can afford, it is a gift of nature, an abundance of fresh air and a scenic greenery offering a relaxing environment to both tourists and business travelers alike” Alvaro said.
The hotel is due to open (soft opening) its doors to the public on September 9 and grand opening on December this year. It aims to redefine the meaning of luxury vacation with the beauty and grace of nature as its platform. MIREJ will set a new benchmark in the hospitality industry and will provide luxurious experience to remember.
“We are committed in providing the tourism industry a landscape of everything first: first-ever tree house café, first-ever Halal Restaurant. first-ever giant infinity pool, and the first-ever environment- friendly hotel. That is MIREJ Clark, redefi ning luxury through ultra-modern amenities with genuine Filipino Hospitality” Alvaro ended.
Jeffrey Del Mundo, one of the co-founders of MEDAL Consortium extended personal invitations to visit MIREJ, a proud initiative and a signature project of the consortium.
Alvaro was also accompanied by multi-awarded Landscape Architect Vincent Lim, known for his relevant, innovative and artistic solutions. He just recently concluded his continuing higher education from Harvard University.
“Designing outdoor space is all about people. Style must engage into people’s rich and complex relationship with the outdoors. At its very core, a pursuit of sustainability and resilience” Lim shared during the presentation.
Lim is the man behind MIREJ’s sustainable designs and unique environment-friendly landscape. Thus, giving life to its tagline “Nature Reinvents Hospitality”.
