New Jersey's Ocean City pays tribute to PHL

A special tribute was given to the Philippines in Ocean City, New Jersey in the United States, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. A special trade and tourism fair featuring the Philippines was held at at the famous Music Pier in Ocean City in New Jersey from July 23 and 24, the DFA said. At least 17 businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs participated in the fair, Philippine Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. said. In 2010, Ocean City and San Jose, Mindoro Occidental formally became sister cities, with the help of singer Rene Sese, a resident of Ocean City and also a native of San Jose. In this year's event, performers from Air Circus, a toy store in Ocean City's boardwalk, showed their skills in playing yo-yo, an indigenous Philippine toy. A cultural show in the evening of July 23 featured Filipino-American talents. "(Sese and) 12-year-old Nina Sophia Mojares, semi-finalist at America's You've Got Talent show, Season 5, and Monica Castillo Meares, and flute player April Talangbayan performed in the cultural show," the DFA said. Ballroom dancers Nina and her 13-year-old partner Gabriel Basalatan, who won first place in the USA 2011 National Dancesport Ballroom Championships, also presented a dance number. The American band Tidal Wave and Hula Polynesian dancer Betty Harshaw also performed at the event. "It was encouraging to see more people at the tribute for the Philippines this year despite the extremely hot weather. This event could grow bigger in four to five years," said Ocean City's Public Information Officer Mark Soifer, according to a news release of the DFA. Aside from the fair, the Consulate also held a one-day consular outreach at the Music Pier and processed the passport and legalization and dual citizenship applications of Filipinos residing in nearby areas. - VVP, GMA News