Enjoy the last stretch of Fil-Am History Month at this Pinoy fiesta in Virginia
We’re on the last stretch of October and if you haven’t celebrated Filipino pride this Filipino American History Month yet, a Pinoy party is happening in Virginia tomorrow, Oct. 28.
Happening at the Main Line Brewery from noon to 5 p.m., the fiesta will feature over 40 local vendors, including artisans and food trucks all geared up with your favorite Pinoy food. Be sure to come hungry!
Knowing how Filipino families party, of course, we can expect karaoke at the event, too.
One of the vendors you should look forward to is Auntie Ning’s, who’s ready to tantalize your tastebuds with their signature lumpia and lechon kawali.
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A dessert pop-up, Matamis, (sweet in English), will also offer ube sundaes, cookies, and cheesecakes. Ato’s Sisig & Grill food truck will also be present to serve kwek-kwek (fried coated quail eggs), crispy chicken skin, pork belly sisig, and tofu mushroom.
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Kape Lola which sources coffee from Filipino farmers, D Grace Cafe specializing in ensaymada (a fluffy pastry with cheese on top), and SSG Pinoy Kitchen will also serve empanadas and siopao.
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That’s not all, Tambayan Grill, a female-owned food truck will take you back to the streets of Philippines as they’ll be grilling some Filipino-style street food, such as skewers of isaw, tenga, and leeg. They also have beef caldereta and their very own special lumpia.
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The brains behind this Pinoy fiesta
Aubrey Rivera and Roxanne Atienza, two first-gen Fil-Ams who grew up in Virginia Beach, saw the lack of Filipino representation in Richmond, Virginia.
Reflecting on this, Rivera says, “I was kind of disconnected from the Asian experience. I didn’t realize how much of an impact my culture had on me growing up because it was so accessible. I was in that pocket of being with family and friends, and then not being around it, you realize how big of an impact culture is to your growing up.”
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“There’s something to be said about being a first-generation Asian American. When you’re growing up as a teenager, your priorities are different, you kind of want to assimilate,” Atienza adds.
Both founders were on a quest to rediscover their Filipino heritage, leading to the birth of Kasama Collective, a local group envisioning to uplift the cultures and voices of Filipino, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders in Richmond through events. Kasama Collective is also collaborating with the Filipino American Association of Central Virginia for this Pinoy fiesta.
