Filipino culture rocks at annual FilCom fiesta in Honolulu

Farrington High School perform Sayaw sa Bangko. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

HONOLULU — From delicious food to lively performances and a variety of organizations sharing their Filipino pride, any outsider to the culture could become an honorary Filipino or Filipina for a day. It definitely felt like something to celebrate at the 25th Annual FilCom Fiesta.

With L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Philippine Airlines, Honolulu Star Advertiser and Western Union as its sponsors, this year’s annual fiesta became another hit, taking place on May 6 at Kapiolani Park from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Many organizations celebrated Filipino culture with food that people enjoyed throughout the day. Yummy offerings from places like such as L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Shave Ice and Olay’s represented the Filipinos’ welcoming attitude towards all cultures.

People line up for the delicious Filipino food at the FilCom Fiesta. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

“It is the fabric that is interwoven culturally that makes the Filipino heritage very interesting because of our multicultural weave,” Imelda “Emmie” Ortega-Anderson explains. The founder of Pinoy Power Media volunteered her time as one of the emcees during the fiesta. Businesses such as Western Union and LBC also promoted their services, reminders of the sacrifices that many Filipino immigrants go through to send money and balikbayan boxes to their families back home.

Of course, a Filipino fiesta would not be complete without outstanding performances. This year, the fiesta’s silver anniversary, showcased a variety of talent from all over the island and beyond.

Performances included a dance group from Farrington High School, a modern tinikling organization called Tekniqlingz and a variety of cultural dances from BIBAK, Bulacan Circle and Associates as well as many others.

Each performance provided a glimpse of how Filipino culture has become diverse over the years. Many singers took the stage, from the Haranistas to Bradley Anguay to the Dynamic Kids. The audience experienced a phenomenal mini-concert. “We are happy to be a part of it; it’s our way of sharing our culture, our tradition, our music, our dances, everything that is dear to us as Filipinos,” Ortega-Anderson states.

But what kind of fiesta would the 25th Annual FilCom Fiesta become without any special guests? The community took the time to welcome Broadway singer Kristian Lei and the Philippines’ very own Anthony Castelo to the stage for a special performance.

Kristian Lei serenades the crowd with Broadway tunes. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

How did she find her way to the fiesta? Lei says, “All of us are connected through the community so we all know each other and I’m always doing things for the FilCom Center. I was honored to even get asked to come and perform as one of the features for the Broadway section.”

Lei reminisced how she previously felt ashamed to express her Filipino culture as a little girl because of her want to become accepted among her peers. Now, she always greets with “mabuhay” and “aloha.”

“I was raised by the land but my culture is very much Filipino. Learning the history and t what our ancestors went through gave me that feeling that I had a responsibility to stand up for them or to represent them because they went through so much. We are a combination of so many cultures and that’s what makes us so unique,” Lei adds.

Philippines-based singer Anthony Castelo has the same feeling when representing the Filipino community. “It’s quite moving when I see the success of Filipinos anywhere I travel in the world. I get emotionally happy when I see Filipinos have become an important in the progress of many of their adopted nations, but they will always have a special place in their hearts for the old country,” Castelo states

Bulacan Circle and Associates prepare to dance La Jota Moncadena. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

“Many of our most respected immigrants, anywhere in the world that I travel, many are Filipino descent and when you give them the opportunity to succeed, they do not only succeed but they excel. That’s the Filipino way. We are used to hardships; we really have to give tribute to those who came before us. Ilocanos were the first pineapple planters here so we have to give it to them. The Filipinos travel everywhere. I’m really happy to be here, and I really am grateful for the United States immigration to allow me to come here and celebrate with our kababayans,” he adds.

Her hope for future fiestas is the intermingling of cultures, especially in this day in age where so many inventions connect people all over the world, Ortega-Anderson says. “That is my hope, to unite all cultures, to unite the world, empower everyone, see the good and beauty. Thank you for the opportunity, I am always grateful because for the seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart. I am forever grateful. Maraming salamat. Thank you very much.”