Amb. Gaa at Groundbreaking Ceremony for National Philippine Multicultural Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland
Philippine Ambassador to
the United States of America Willy C. Gaa led a groundbreaking ceremony
for the construction of a National Philippine Multicultural Center in
Oxon Hill, Maryland last 25 February 2008. With him at the
groundbreaking ceremony were Prince Georges County Executive Jack
Johnson, State of Maryland State Representative Kris Valderrama and
State Senator Anthony Muse. Local Filipino American leaders in Prince
Georges county, such as former Maryland delegate David Valderrama,
businessmen Al Alpapara and Corazon Dones, were also present to witness
the groundbreaking ceremony.
With funding from both Prince Georges County and the State of Maryland,
the old Police Station located at 7500 Livingstone Road, Oxon Hill will
be fully renovated to serve as a nerve center for the Multicultural
Center. Several structures will be constructed at the vacant lot to
complete the envisioned Multicultural Center complex. Prince Georges
County and the State of Maryland had allocated $300,000 and $800,000
respectively to bankroll the renovation of the old Police Station and
transform it into the first of the buildings comprising the Philippine
Multicultural Center complex. According to officials of Prince Georges
County and the State of Maryland, additional funding will be allocated
by both local authorities in the next budget cycle to complete all
planed structures to be built.
PHOTO: (Left) Ambassador Gaa leading the groundbreaking ceremonies for a
National Philippine Multicultural Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Right)
Ambassador Gaa with State Senator Anthony Muse (to the Ambassador’s
left) and Prince Georges County Executive Jack Johnson (to the
Ambassador’s right).