Plano, Texas ‘Lone Star Palengke’ draws more than 7,000

The Lone Star Palengke held Oct. 23 at the Red Tail Pavilion in Plano, Texas, celebrated Filipino heritage and raised funds for a dreamed of Filipino community center. FACEBOOK

More than 7,000 Filipinos and friends thronged to the Lone Star Palengke Oct. 23 at the Red Tail Pavilion in Plano, Texas to celebrate Filipino heritage and raise funds for a dreamed of Filipino community center.

Mark Sampelo, who cofounded Lone Star Palengke with Abby Casallo, told Winston Henvey of Plano Star Courier that the Dallas-Fort Worth area has more than 80,000 Filipinos and that the community has been around for 50 years.

Cofounders Mark Sample and Abby Casallo (not in photo) plan to hold Lone Star Palengke annually. FACEBOOK

Casallo said the projected community center will be a place for Filipino community members to hold events and seek needed resources and bring more visibility.

Palengke hosted some 120 vendors and attracted businesses and sponsors even from out of state. The event raised more than $20,000 from vendor slots, donations, sponsorships and more, Sampelo told Plano Star Courier.

Sampelo and Casallo said that they plan to hold the Lone Star Palengke annually.