(Kuh Ledesma at Historic Filipino Town Celebration onstage with the winner/s of the 5k run and with hosts (emcees) Thelma Sugay & Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal. Photo coverage by Nic Arriola)
Los Angeles: August 4 and 5, 2007 marked the fifth year celebration of the official recognition of Filipino Town in Los Angeles, California. This area is bounded by the 101 freeway to the north, Beverly boulevard to the south, Hoover street to the west, and Glendale blvd to the east. The fiesta was held at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) located at 1740 W Temple blvd.
The occasion reflected the Filipino ways of how to have a block party. Saturday morning kicked off with indoor prayer services followed by street dancing inspired by the Silver Lake Adult Center. Composed of our elderly constituents, they had fun showing the younger generation how Pinoy seniors can still boogie down the streets of L.A Backing them up was of course a Filipino rock n roll band named “Friday Night Garage Band”.
The facility was set up with different booths, which promoted products that would benefit the multiple Filipinos that came to grace the occasion. Food stalls with sumptuous fare were available for whoever was hungry. There were booths with gorgeous handicraft items for sale. Also a dunking booth were free spirited Pinoys did their athletic best to drop a friend or relative into that water tank.
The people who went to this affair were Filipinos who wanted to touch basis with their countrymen and talk about what’s going on in the old country. This were Fil-Ams who have not lost touch with their roots and find time to hang out with what soothes their souls the most. And that is talking to fellow Filipinos, remembering the good old days when times were hard. I say this because hard times are nothing to be ashamed about. Most of us went through it, which gave us the motivation to emigrate. But those times were not bad since good memories of familiar faces and happy events back then color our past in a positive light.
Walking around the parking lot and street converted to party grounds, I met up with some business people who are quite happy with the current economic up trend in the Philippines. They agree that it’s about time we Fil-Ams should invest in the motherland by purchasing property there. Another thought was to promote more trade from there by re-exploring the export of handicrafts to America. An elderly lady mentioned that organizations like Bantay Bata or Gawad Kalinga is a great way to share our blessings with the less fortunate people back home.
Filipinos know how to have fun. The party atmosphere was in play all the time with background music and people intermingling. As a matter of fact, this celebration was a two-day marathon of fabulous talented guests performing dance and song numbers, comedy skits, more street dancing, ethnic presentations, and more. My only regret was that I could not stay the two days to observe and be a part of this celebration as a whole. But it was so nice to just walk around and see smiling and approachable brown faces eager to talk and be friends.
If you think about it, Filipino Town is all over. You may be in New York, Canada, or Paris and there will always be a place where we can find fellow experts. They would only be too happy if you hang out with them and speak the language. For Pinoys, if you come from the same province, you must be related one way or another. There’s that bonding created when you know someone that this new friend also knows. Having this common acquaintance solidifies your relationship with your new friend. Social networking is an art that Filipinos have mastered.
Again, Filipino Town is in the mind and the hearts of all Fil-Ams. Celebrating it with fellow countrymen in a landmark is another way of saying that we still care. Mabuhay tayo!
(Article by: John F Lacson)