The largest Fil-Am History Month celebration hits Echo Park Lake

Hordes of Filipino Americans flocked to Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles for the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) on Saturday, October 8.
FPAC is the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California, originating in 1992 shortly after the LA riots. It was created to not only unite the Fil-Am community, but to showcase talents and performances by local and famous Fil-Ams.
According to FilAm ARTS — the parent organization that hosts the annual event — the theme was “Samu’t Sari: Showcasing the Diverse Creative Tapestry of the Fil-Am Community,”  which lends its meaning to the Tagalog phrase samu’t sari (“diversity”).
The daylong festival included not only merchandise booths, but vendors selling a variety of both traditional and modern-infused Filipino food.
Most of the attendees gathered in front of the stage where there was an ongoing lineup of performances of music, such as opera and rap, various forms of dancing, and talks on culture and history lessons of the Philippines. The performance schedule was curated by Giselle “G” Tongi, host and producer of daily talk show “Kababayan Today.” 
Despite the high temperatures that day, special guests from around the city came to witness the celebration, such as Rep.Adam Schiff of California’s 28th District, State Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez, LA Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell from District 13,and Joel Jacinto, who was nominated by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti as a commissioner for the Board of Public Works last year and is former executive director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).
“It is our duty to pass this on from generation to generation. It’s not an individual I; it’s tayo, it’s we, it’s inclusive… That’s what public service is all about,” said Jacinto onstage, after receiving the “Public Service Award” from FilAm ARTS.
O’Farrell and Jacinto led the unveiling of the street lights — inspired by the sun on the Philippine flag — that will be installed throughout Historic Filipinotown later this month.
Fil-Am celebrities such as Leslie-Anne Huff from “The Vampire Diaries,” Tess Paras and Vincent Rodriguez III from the comedy-drama series “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” and Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyes Peas also expressed how their Filipino heritage has affected their personal lifestyle and upbringing.
Paras and Rodriguez and the Basco Family were honored with Excellence in the Arts Awards.
Apl.de.ap sang hits like “Bebot,” “Where is the Love?” and “I Gotta Feeling,” which he performed with the help of Tongi, Huff, Paras, Rodriguez, and Roshon Fegan, a Disney channel star and rising solo artist, STAHYL from JABBAWOCKEEZ, Asia Aragon, Ranella Ferrer, and Roslynn Cobarrubias of mydiveo on MyxTV.
Fegan, who is of Filipino and African American descent, said, “This festival is important to me in general because it is an opportunity to bring all the Filipinos in America together, and there are not enough events like this. It really keys in on who we and our heritage [are] all in one big park. It’s amazing.”
His family, including his lola (grandmother), came out to support him at the park.
FPAC also had a performance from rapper Bambu and showcased traditional dances, such as tinikling and the Maranaoan dance, exposing younger generations to older folk dances.
FilAm ARTS also gave Community Service Awards to The Park’s Finest, Neri’s Casual Filipino Dining and Joe Navidad (posthumous).
The Asian Journal, which was the exclusive Fil-Am media sponsor of FPAC, received the Corporate Stewardship Award.
“We are overflowed with joy and gratitude, just seeing the energy of the crowd throughout the day!,” said Tina Bulchand, interim Executive Director of FilAm ARTS. “Every year, it gives us a renewed sense of pride for our Filipino-American heritage, seeing all the talents onstage and around the different pavilions, that feeling of ‘kapwa’ flowing out of everyone who have participated in the festival, whether they were there as artists, businesses, or as guests.”
Kamaka Aquino, who has been to FPAC several times in the past, and is a manager of one of the performances, said he enjoyed being a part of FPAC.
“It’s for a good cause. It’s a community and cultural event. Being polynesians and islanders, we are very family oriented and cultural events are always based on that,” Aquino said.
The celebration also provided plenty of hands-on activities such as mat making and other crafts, being able to sit inside a Jeepney, a common mode of transportation in Manila, and games for younger kids.
“I believe an event like FPAC can strengthen a community. Just walking around the different booths you could feel a sense of camaraderie whether you were Filipino or not,” said Jessica Legaspi, who experienced FPAC for the first time. “As a Fil-Am college student, this makes me so proud of my culture and its traditions. I am reminded of the struggles Filipinos have faced throughout American history and it means so much to me as a first generation Filipino.”
Though FPAC is FilAm ARTS’s premier event, the organization has more programs throughout the year to engage Fil-Ams around Southern California.
“What you saw at FPAC is a promise of what you will continue to see more of from FilAm ARTS: more artist-engagement efforts through our Pilipino Artists’ Network, small-business support with the Buy Pinoy program, arts education through the Eskwela Kultura program and more sharing of our unique stories as Fil-Ams with the Saysay Project,” Bulchand said.
By Heather Domingo