Unity big part of Filipino festival

From the modest set up and warm smiles of the volunteers, to the close sitting arrangements during basketball games, it was apparent, unity served as the main attraction this weekend, at the seventh annual Filipino-American Cultural Weekend Celebration.

Though Sunday was busier with activities, both days offered equal opportunity to make time spent together a priority.

“It’s like our culture: Filipino dancing, the basketball. It’s a lot of camaraderie. We do it this way to show the kids how they do it in the Philippines, because a lot of them were born here, so they don’t know,” said Elizabeth Remigio, Vice Chairwoman for the local chapter of Fil-Amer Association of California, which hosts the weekend celebration each year. “It’s a lot of work [organizing the event], but it’s worth it, to teach the kids.”

This year, the Board of Directors decided on Bartlett Middle School as a trial location.

Veterans Park and the Monache High School gymnasium had been used in prior years.

According to Fil-Amer President, Arcadio Ninobla, many said they enjoyed the new venue, but participation was about the same as it has been in previous years.

“The kids enjoy it here because it’s all in one place,” said Remigio. “So they can go get food and then come watch the game. And we don’t have to worry about our kids because it’s all in one place.”

They also moved the event its usual date in September, to August, in order to beat the start of the school season and draw more participation from the youth. Ninobla said this could have led to the turnout of one or two more basketball teams participating in the weekend tournament than last year.

Saturday began with a motorcade, followed by an opening ceremony and a few performances. Then, the first half of the two-day basketball tournament began and carried on through most of the day. Some played parlor games, such as “Hip, Hip, Hooray,” on Saturday and potato sack races and volleyball on Sunday.

The title of “Mr. Filipino Weekend” was awarded to Ian Fernandez, based on crowd applause.
Sunday, the activities included a fashion show featuring Filipino dresses, called a “barong,” more parlor games, a presentation of the candidates for Little Mr. and Little Miss Fil-Amer, and a presentation of the Fil-Amer Scholarship recipients.

A member of the youth Fil-Amer Association, Cristano Agpaoa, 21, said the weekend event offers an accurate glimpse of life in the Philippines — where he grew up for three years before attending school here.

“This is how we are. We mainly want to be united. We are really friendly people so we’re trying to present ourselves and show our culture and how we are,” he said. “Most of the people here, we know by first names and last names, and even though we’re not related, we call them ‘auntie’ and ‘uncle,’ because of the bonding, and to show our respect.”

A few food and clothing vendors set up booths along the west gate in the Bartlett Middle School field, while singing and dancing occasionally occupied the amphitheater stage throughout the day. Most of the people were either gathered under the shade trees near the booths or watching the basketball tournament taking place in the gymnasium. Inside, they sat side-by-side, just along the boundary lines of the court, on either side, regardless of the team they were cheering for.

Sisters, Laurie and Mariah Domingo, cheered for the Fil-Am United team during a basketball match against the Lemoore team. The older sibling, Laurie, said she gets plenty out of attending the Cultural Weekend each year.

“It’s just a lot of quality family time. Like most of the team is our family — family and friends,” she said. “We’re just here to support them. We have a lot of fun being together and eating.”

Eddie and Diana Dominguez bought Filipino food and sat in a group of chairs facing the amphitheater while their son, Jason, played basketball with his Delano team, “The Blaze.”

“It’s nice. It’s the first time we’ve been here. I didn’t even know they had a Filipino day in Porterville,” said Diana Dominguez. “I really enjoy the Filipino food.”

“We emphasize, not winning the game, but playing the game – sportsmanship over competition,” Ninobla said.

At the start of the day, a long line of vehicles decorated loudly in colored ribbons, flowers and balloons, proceeded through downtown streets for a motorcade. Afterward, Ninobla led a ceremony that included the official lighting of the torch, which represents guidance and signifies the formal opening of the weekend, and an Oath of Sportsmanship, taken by the each of the participating basketball team members and led by Phil Decena.

“This weekend is designed to promote the camaraderie and establish friendship, to promote the culture and traditions of the Philippines, and to promote youth and sports development,” Ninobla said. “We were able to see close friends we haven’t seen before, and they were here. I think we were also able to draw newer faces.”