Makati parade turns into Binay victory party

MANILA, Philippines - A parade marking the 340th founding anniversary of Makati City turned into a victory party for vice president-elect Jejomar Binay as diplomats, businessmen and around 10,000 residents participated in the event.

Instead of carrying placards bearing the words “Happy 340th Year anniversary,” Binay’s supporters carried placards that read: “Congratulations Vice President Binay.”

The parade started at the city’s Central Fire Station located at the corner of Ayala and Gil Puyat Avenues all the way to an improvised staged at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo De Roxas fronting the Securities and Exchange Commission building.

The grand parade showcased floats and marching delegations from the public and private sectors and the international community which includes the members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity; Thai embassy, led by Ambassador Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya; Argentinian embassy, led by Ambassador Joaquin Daniel Otero and the Chinese embassy, led by Ambassador Liu Jianchao.

From the business community, delegates marched behind floats from the Insular Life Assurance, Co., Ayala Land, Inc., ML Lhuillier, Rockwell and Corp.; and GMA-7.

The other companies that sent delegates for the grand parade include the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Dusit Thani Hotel and Intercontinental Manila Hotel, the Makati Commercial Estate Association, the Loyola Plans Consolidated, Rufino Pacific Tower, VAR Buildings, Inc., Metrobank, Cocolife and Amalgamated Development Corp./Multinational Bancorp., the Makati Tourism Foundation, NSO Makati, AMA Computer College-Makati campus, and Makati barangays.

In an interview with reporters after the parade, Binay said they are preparing for all possibilities in the upcoming oathtaking of himself and President Benigno Aquino III.