BY MANNY ASUNCION – Celebrating its 33 years of service to the Filipino-Australian community, the Philippine Fiesta in Victoria will be held on 28-29 November at a much bigger and better venue – the historic Royal Exhibition Building along Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria which is accessible to public transport and parking areas.
The Philippine Fiesta of Victoria has been celebrated for the past 32 years without a break. It has become a show-window of Filipino culture and traditions, not only to the Filipino Community in Victoria but to the Australian-multicultural society as well.
The Fiesta also becomes an effective venue for family reunions, meeting old friends and acquaintances and promotion of business and trade initiatives
This year’s theme of Pagsulong sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan (Moving on to a Progressive Future) underscores the essentiality of moving forward to achieve growth, progress and development not only in the present but most importantly in the future.
During its 32 years of existence, Fiesta has evolved from a small scale festivity to a bigger festival and has become the much-awaited event on the Filipino-Australian calendar.
Its location has been moved to different venues to accommodate its current needs and its growing attendees as it looks forward to a new Philippine Fiesta Community Centre to be built in Laverton , Victoria by 2017.
This year’s festivity will be graced by three well known entertainers headed by Mikey Bustos, a Filipino-Canadian international comedian; Marlisa Punzalan, the 2015 an X Factor Australia Winner and a popular Sydney-based singer, Mr Brian Lorenz.
Apart from the aforementioned performers, the Fiesta will feature an array on exciting and colourful activities such as Filipino culture, paintings and photo exhibits; Filipino Festival dance competition; cook fest; Filipino martial arts exhibitions; on the spot photo contest, Fiesta Beauty Quest Presentation, eclectic performances from the Filipino-Australian talents in Melbourne, Fiesta ideas and innovations initiated by the Filipino-Australian Student Council (FASTCO) and of course the ubiquitous Filipino food, drinks and desserts, among others.
It is expected that the forthcoming Fiesta will attract more people, not only for the arts, culture and entertainment, but for its ambience of fun, excitement and camaraderie and sense of belonging.