President Quezon in Saranac Lake, just before his death at Camp Massapequa on Lower Saranac Lake. (Photo courtesy Quezon Family Collection)

SARANAC LAKE — Historic Saranac Lake this week announced a full schedule of activities for President Quezon History Day on Saturday, Aug. 3.

The day will celebrate the life and legacy of Manuel Luis Quezon, the first president of the Philippines, who came to Saranac Lake for his health. The event coincides with the 80th anniversary of Quezon’s death in Saranac Lake on Aug. 1, 1944.

President Quezon History Day is hosted by Historic Saranac Lake in partnership with the Kalayaan 1521 Council, Inc., a non-profit organization that aims to promote and preserve Filipino culture and heritage.

From the 1880s onward, Saranac Lake was known as a world-renowned health resort, attracting people from all walks of life sick with tuberculosis. Tens of thousands of people from around the world came for the fresh air treatment pioneered by Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau. One of the most prominent health seekers of the time was Quezon.

President Quezon History Day extends beyond commemorating the life of the first democratically elected president of the Philippines. The event will also celebrate Filipino culture, recognizing the contributions of vibrant Philippine communities throughout the North Country, New York state and beyond.

“We are really excited to be building bridges to Filipino American neighbors,” said Historic Saranac Lake’s Executive Director Amy Catania. “This is a grassroots, group effort, working in partnership with local Filipino Americans and the Kalayaan 1521 Council, Inc. in Albany.”

Sol Kapunan, Founding President of Kalayaan 1521 Council noted that “among the affiliations the U.S. have with other countries, the Philippine relationship is one of the lasting ones.”

“The United States doesn’t only have a good relationship with the Philippine government, but it has a good relationship with the Filipino people in general as well,” Kapunan said. “As we have seen, the Filipino Diaspora over North America has made considerable advancement over the years. However, we are not only interested in gaining, because Filipinos know the importance of contribution, assimilation and partnership. In our current age, maintaining relationships and winning more allies matter; these are all possible if we do not lose track of the gains that our forefathers have paved for us. Hence, we look back at our past as we commemorate what the great President Manuel Luis Quezon has done for the Filipino Nation and the relationship that he has built between The Philippines and the United States of America.”

The celebration will kick off at 11 a.m. with an opening ceremony at the Harrietstown Town Hall to welcome dignitaries and special guests, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile is guest speaker.

The U.S. National Anthem will be sung by Saranac Lake Filipino American Lisa Keegan. Members of the Panday Tinig Chorus from Montreal will sing the National Anthems of Canada and the Philippines. Dance performances will follow by KAS Dance Collective from New York City and the Golden Maidens from Montreal.

A street fair will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Main Street, in front of the Hotel Saranac. The street fair will feature Filipino food, vendors and dance and music performances at Berkeley Green. Two dance groups, the Albany-Sinulog Dance Troupe and Fundraisers of New York, will perform at the Berkeley Green bandshell in the afternoon. Music will be performed by Brown Sugar Band and the Wicked Indios. The Hotel Saranac will be serving special Filipino-inspired cuisine and drinks throughout the weekend. Visitors may take a photo with a model “Jeep-ney” created by Paul Fobare, supervisor of education at Federal Correctional Institution at Ray Brook and adults in custody working in the Education-Vocational Trades and Recreation Program.

Around the corner from the Street Fair, at Historic Saranac Lake’s Saranac Laboratory Museum, visitors will view special exhibits about President Quezon. A video tour will be shown of Camp Massapequa, where Quezon stayed and died. The museum will also present a recording of an online discussion about Filipino history by Luis Francia and Manuel Luis “Manolo” Casas Quezon III.

Museum visitors can explore the exhibits with a special exhibit discovery card. The first 75 visitors who complete the exhibit discovery card will receive a ticket for a complimentary beverage at the Hotel Saranac for the closing reception. The informal reception with light refreshments will begin at 5 p.m. in the Great Hall.

Activities are free of charge or operating on a pay-what-you-wish basis.