GLENDALE, CA — Another successful and full house “Celebrate YOUniqueness” Festival 2024 was held at the Glendale YMCA on Saturday, March 16 with more than 750 attendees.
This is where history and heritage, arts and culture meet, plus all the diverse food samplings — Armenian, Filipino, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Latino. It was an event to cherish.
A very powerful presentation was made by the “Peaceful Forest Japanese Drummers,” with award-winning Takumi Kato, a Japanese taiko drummer and winner of the Odaiko Grand Prize, and his three sons (ages 12, 10, and 7). They are performing with Peaceful Forest in all 50 U.S. states with the goal of performing 1,000 taiko performances. With Saturday’s performance, they just did their 333!
Other performances captivated the audience were from — the dancers from Ararat Folk Songs and Dance Group, Rose andAlex Pilibos School Choir, MoTHER FY Dance Group, Incarnation School Fil-Am Dance Group, Holy Family Filipino Chorale, Tonantzin Mexico-Azteca Group.
FABAG’s Past President Edith M. Fuentes and YMCA President/CEO George Saikali Co-Chaired the event.
“Thank you to everyone who came to support an event whose goal is to Bring the Community Together,” said Fuentes.
Cheers to Sen. Anthony J. Portantino, Reps. from the Offices of Congressman Adam Schiff, Assemblymember Friedman, Assembly candidate and community leader Jessica Caloza, Philippine Consulate, Japanese Consulate, Mayor Daniel Brotman, Councilmembers Paula Devine, Ardy Ardashes Kassakhian, Ara Najarian and more for gracing the event.
The team behind this included Filipino American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG-GLAC), Renee Rasper and Mike, Ami Bautista, Arleen Lapid Penaflor, Emett Carr, May Mallari, Edwin, Robert, Editha Maniquis Fuentes and more.
YOUniqueness Team included George Saikali, Beth Crawford, Jose Sanchez, Arnella Putzel, Nora Yacoubian, Elizabeth Manasserian, Marisol Chianello, Catherine Yesayan, Armine Aslanian, TC Kim, Vince Iuculano, Anita Quinonez Gabrielian, Sandy Panduro… and more!
The organizers thank donors, sponsors, restaurants and performers for making this possible.
