Darren Espanto, BGYO headline Fiesta Filipino in Canada

The 10th edition of Fiesta Filipino features (from left) The Dawn frontman Jett Pangan, singer-actor Darren Espanto and the “Aces of P-pop” BGYO. Image: fiestafilipinoyyc/Instagram

CALGARY – Filipino Canadian pop star Darren Espanto and p-pop boy band BGYO are headlining Fiesta Filipino, Calgary’s premiere annual festival that celebrates Filipino music, food and culture this Labor Day weekend.

Also performing at the largest festival in Calgary, with the theme “F2X: The Legacy,” are Jett Pangan of the ’80s rock band The Dawn and actor Joross Gamboa.

The festival, which will run through Sunday at the Olympic Plaza in Calgary, is marking its 10th year with live performances, cultural exhibits, Filipino cuisine and more.

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The event is presented by the Philippine Festival Council of Alberta (PFCA).

“It’s a decade of fiestas over the years, and it’s the culmination of basically everything that we’ve gone through, everything that we’ve put together, and just bringing that community together over the 10 years,” PFCA board member Michael Juarez told Livewire Calgary.

“What’s actually quite different this year is, in the past, we’ve always had one main headliner that has come for either the Saturday night or the Sunday afternoon. It’s a bit more star-studded over the three days, we actually have a headliner performing for each day of the festival this year. We’ve also done our best to try to hit the different generations.”

The festival features annual favorites – including the food walk, mainstreet market and the PFCA youth empowerment program’s playcium, which lets visitors try Filipino games.

In celebration of the festival’s 10th year, the Calgary Tower was scheduled to light up with the colors of the Philippine flag on Saturday.

This year’s theme, “F2X: The Legacy,” underscores the festival’s role in promoting heritage and cultural continuity among Filipino Canadians, organizers said.