49ers vs. Chiefs: Which team wins as Fil-Ams’ Super Bowl favorite?

Filipino American rookie wide receiver Nikko Remigio with the Kansas City Chiefs prepares for the Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday. Image: nikkoremigio/IG

SAN FRANCISCO – While Filipino American rookie wide receiver Nikko Remigio with the Kansas City Chiefs prepares for the Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday, some Fil-Ams are eagerly anticipating a San Francisco 49ers victory.

Ollie Arimando and her husband Harley remain loyal to the San Francisco 49ers. CONTRIBUTED

Fil-Am real estate specialist and investor Ollie Arimando and her husband Harley said they remain loyal to the 49ers.

“We are looking forward to the game and rooting for the 49ers, said Harley, a registered ER/Cardiology nurse. “(49ers quarterback) Brock Purdy is one of our favorite players.”

Ollie Arimando echoes her husband: “Yes, Purdy is a good player, and he speaks highly of God, which is important.”

The Las Vegas-based couple are also thrilled that their city is hosting the Super Bowl at the Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11.

“Gone are the days when Las Vegas was known as Sin City. Today, Las Vegas is the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World.’ Music, sports, we have it here. We had successful huge events like the NBA all-star game, NHL Stanley Cup, boxing matches and the city-hosted Formula One just last year,” Arimando said.

Rey and Annie Abarca (in photo with their children) are fans of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. CONTRIBUTED

“Las Vegas is in the spotlight again because of the Super Bowl. Good reason for people to move to Las Vegas, good entertainment and an inexpensive city to live in overall.”

Another Fil-Am couple from Las Vegas, Rey and Annie Abarca, said they are fans of Purdy, but they also have great admiration for the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes are boldly honoring God in their gifts,” said Rey Abarca, who runs All About Details LLS, a company specializing in handcrafted paper products.

“It is a humble act for them to give glory to God when they have the opportunity and platform to take all the credit for themselves. It’s refreshing and a chance for us to be somehow reminded that, in the end, we’re all just stewards of God’s blessings of skills and talents.”

Annie Abarca said the Super Bowl brings excitement to the city and a much-needed boost to the local economy.

The Abarca family has invited friends “of mixed cultures” to their Super Bowl party so they will be preparing a variety of dishes that reflect cultural diversity – with Filipino favorites, like pansit and Pinoy-style fruit salad, as the centerpiece.

“(The Super Bowl party) is a way for our family and friends to take a break from our usual routine and gather together, enjoying food and each other’s company,” Annie Abarca said.

The couple said they find it amusing that many Fil-Am senior citizens in their neighborhood are talking about Taylor Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce.

Ferdie and Lilet Cancino are anticipating a 49ers victory. CONTRIBUTED

AV technician Alvin Gomez believes that the 49ers are the top favorite among many Fil-Ams.

Gomez, who is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, said many Fil-Am 49ers fans are getting ready to host Super Bowl parties with a Filipino fiesta flair to cheer for their perennial favorite.

He noted that the 49ers have the most number of Super Bowl victories with five wins, compared to the Chiefs’ three, bringing home the Lombardi Trophies between 1981-94.

If they win on Sunday, the 49ers would tie the New England Patriots and the Pittsburg Steelers with six Super Bowl titles.

Ferdie and Lilet Cancino are also anticipating a 49ers victory.

“Of course, we are rooting for the 49ers,” said Ferdie Cancino, a retired US Postal Service plant support supervisor based in Las Vegas.

“Superbowl is a Sunday, church day, but we’re usually done with our church service by 3 p.m.”

Cancino said they will be watching the game with fellow church members and are looking forward to the Super Bowl halftime.

Carl and Kyera Acampado will not play favorites when they watch the game on Sunday. CONTRIBUTED

“It’s like watching a concert, although Usher is the only celebrity I’m familiar with among the halftime performers,” said Lilet Cancino.

Fil-Am engineer Carl Acampado and his wife Kyera, a business analyst, will not play favorites when they watch the game on Sunday.

“We are excited to watch the Super Bowl since my workmates would talk about it a lot at work, Carl Acampado said.  “We were thrilled when our relatives invited us to a watch party.”

Kyera Acampado said the party host has already set up a game room with indoor heaters and a pool table. “We plan to bring homemade nachos and I’m looking forward to Usher’s performance,” she said.