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Dignitaries at the opening ceremony of Fiesta In America's 19th Anniversary edition held on August 12, 2017 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. Front row, left to right: Consul Arman Talbo; Dr. Fely Quines, Hermana Mayor; Dr. Emilio Quines, Hermano Mayor; Arnold Gonzales, OIC of the Media Relations and Communications Division, Philippine Tourism Promotions Board; Rey Valera, OPM icon; Noven Beleza, 2017 Tawag Ng Tanghalan champion; and Fr. Dave Sison, who delivered the invocation. Second row, left to right: Rommel Rivera, Naffaa; General (ret.) Antonio Taguba, AARP spokesperson for the AAPI community; Aida Rivera, Naffaa; Zeny Pallugna, Acting OIC, New York Office of the Philippine Department of Tourism; Consul General Ma. Theresa de Vega; Nanding Mendez, Fiesta In America President and CEO; Dr. Laura Garcia, nursing educator at NYU College of Nursing and Phillips School of Nursing at Mt. Sinai Beth Israel; Susan del Mundo, OIC of the Tourism Promotions Board's Domestic Promotions Department; Jessica Sanchez, Americvan Idol season 11 sensation; and the Hon. Norman Schmelz, Mayor of Bergenfield, NJ. Third row, left to right: Roger and Spanky Rigor of Manila Sound pioneer VST and Company; Eva Caparas, Jett Montelibano, and Fe de los Reyes of OPM trailblazer Music and Magic; Roger Oriel, Asian Journal publisher; Meriterese Racanelli, MS, R&D Food Scientist/Nutritionist/Chef at Goya Foods; Rolando Lavarro, Jersey City, NJ Council President; Jonathan Wong, Mahwah, NJ Councilman; William McKeever and John Gerbasio, Secaucus, NJ Councilmen.  (Photo by Boyet Loverita)