Fiesta in America makes big comeback on its 25th year

Fiesta in America grand relaunching at American Dream Mall at East Rutherford, New Jersey hosted by Founder-CEO Nanding Mendez (9thfrom right) who stood next to the Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato. In attendance were Philippine Tourism led by PDOTNY Director Francisco Lardizabal, New Jersey officials Bergen County Commissioner Ramon Hache and Bergen County Economic Development head Joanne Cimiluca (12th and 13th from right), with community leaders of NY-NJ nonprofit organizations. INQUIRER photo/Carol Tanjutco.

NEW YORK – After a pandemic hiatus, the biggest gathering of Northeast Filipino-Americans came back to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a powerhouse of entertainers, comedians, fashion designers and local performers that kept hundreds of Filipinos and their families glued to the center stage of American Dream Mall at New Jersey.

A diverse crowd of Latino and multicultural Americans also joined the all-day festivities on Saturday, Aug. 20. Founded in 1996, Fiesta in America mounted the biggest indoor exhibition year after year except during the 2020-2021 pandemic.

It’s seminal launch at New York’s Javits Center in 1996 marked the marriage of trade exhibition and concert performances that soon became an annual tradition. It’s subsequent move to Meadowlands Expo Center from 1999-2019 saw the biggest gathering of Filipino Americans in the Atlantic corridor.

Chess child prodigy Meagan Paragua (left photo) ranked as No. 1 World Chess Player Under 10 years old, challenged several players at the same time during the trade show. Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha (right photo) wowed the evening audience with Filipino love songs. INQUIRER Photos/Carol Tanjutco.

Founder and CEO Nanding Mendez said, “It’s been a tough climb back, but we have shown that nothing can stop the power of a big, yet simple idea.” For a change, he diversified the show: “To evoke multiculturalism, we featured Chinese and Korean dance troupes, Latin singers and U.S. Billboard icons such as The Drifters and Gary Lewis and The Playboys.” Admission was free.

Fiesta boasted a trade pavilion that showcased handicraft exhibitors from Luzon to Mindanao, SMDC real estate for investment, Philippine Tourism attractions, free health screenings by Philippine Nurses Association and New Bridge Medical Center, children’s workshop led by Unified teachers, raffle promotions consisting of Balikbayan boxes from Makati Express cargo, smart TV, art pieces by Eagle Eye Charities Inc. and a variety of product giveaways.

The morning kicked off with a Mass and traditional Santacruzan procession around the mall. OPM headliners Florante, comedienne Fe Delos Reyes and “Asia’s Nightingale” Lani Misalucha kept a huge crowd clamoring for more. Familiar hit songs by the Sounds of Manila, the local Band of Brothers, Belvidere Avenue Band, Chris Como, Arianne Aldecoa, The Arato Brothers, Jisyl Ds and Patricia Dinglasan provided a nonstop concert.

The finale of the fashion show, designer Toshimi Pacumbala (center) from the Philippines, presented an array of whimsical beadworks for evening and ballroom wear. Right photo: New Bridge Medical Center and volunteers of Philippine Nurses Association offered free health screenings throughout the day. INQUIRER Photos/Carol Tanjutco.

In between performances were folk dances and a dazzling display of colorful costumes that painted the vibrant tradition of Philippine regional islands, from the Muslim dance ritual of Kinding Sindaw, the Filipino Folkloric Dance Troupe of Central New Jersey, Mutya Philippine Dance Company of Philadelphia to Cebu Inc. Latin American hour led to the finale number, “Vamos a bailar en Fiesta in America.”

Another crowd drawer at the tradeshow, Meagan Paragua, was given a Special Recognition for Achievement in Game of Chess. She ranked No. 1 at World Chess Player Under Ten Years Old by the international chess federation FIDE. She  was selected as the official representative to the 2020 World Cadet Under 8 Girls Chess Championship in Batumi, Georgia. The Queens native is the niece of Chess Grandmaster Mark Paragua.

To complete the comeback show, mannequins ruled the ramp in a production by Asia Pacific Fashion Week “Ramp for a Cause,” featuring Philippine designers Lionell Christian Lanuzo, Toshimi Pacumbala, Jian Lesaca and Dave Ocampo. The hosts, sponsored by GMA Pinoy TV, were Grace Rustia and Vincent Medina. Co-sponsors of the event were Asian Journal and Global Management Company.