Phil Faire Past

The Mira Mesa Community Park in San Diego was the site of the Philippine Festival and Faire 2008 on June 7, 2008. This included the Festival of Festivals Parade, that has become a tradition, featuring the inclusion of thousands of Filipino-American students from the various schools in the County.

Celebrating the 110th anniversary of Philippine Independence, the annual event, which used to be held at the Kimball Park in National City, was moved to Mira Mesa to facilitate a joint celebration/collaboration among the Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County, the Aguinaldo Foundation and Mabuhay Alliance.

Grand Marshals at the Festival of Festvals parade were Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo-Aragon, Councilmember Brian Maienschein of District V, San Diego, and Board Member Mitz Lee of the San Diego Unified School District. The whole day faire that followed the parade was attended by thousands of people who enjoyed the Philippine cultural dances and songs, modern dances, and more entertainment, as well as the many food booths and displays provided by numerous vendors and service organizations.

Pictures of the Philippine Festival and Faire may be viewed by clicking on the names below. Thanks to these photographers who volunteered their time and expertise to cover the event:

A flurry of varied hues and sounds filled the air of National City on June 9, as Filipino-Americans and other members of the community celebrated the 109th Independence of the Philippines, with Philippine Faire 2007. Through the Festival of Festivals parade which was held in the morning, the annual event showcased the different cultures of the varied ethnic groups constituting the Islands. With its theme, “Moving Forward through Collaboration,” the Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO), sponsor of the festival together with the City of National City, reaffirmed its commitment to forging a higher level of unity among Filipino-Americans in San Diego.

In June 2006, right after that year’s Philippine Faire and at the urging of then National City Councilmember Ron Morrison, the COPAO Executive Council decided to hold a one-day faire instead of the usual two-days. There were a number of reasons for the change, foremost among which was the feedback received from the public, practicality and the cost that went into holding the event over a full weekend. That’s why a few in the audience were surprised that it was a one-day event. In fact, several promised, "We'll be coming back tomorrow, with a few more friends," thinking that it was a two-day event like the previous ones.

This year, no less than National City Mayor Ron Morrison and Philippine Consul General Mary Jo B. Aragon served as Grand Marshals of the parade, which cascaded through Plaza Boulevard down to Kimball Park. Since festivals are at the heart of Philippine culture, various community organizations and students representing the different high-schools of the San Diego County depicted festivals celebrated in the different regions of the Philippines, like the Ati-atihan by Mt. Carmel High School, Panagbenga by Otay Ranch High School, Sinulog of Bell Jr. High School, Pabitin of the South Bay Filipino-American Community Association, Harana sa Makati of Eastlake High, Kadayawan of Sweetwater High, and the Maskarra Festival of Paradise Hills Elementary School. Olympian High showed off their Parols, Montgomery High portrayed the Pintados, and Morse High School depicted the Pahiyas festival. Participants vied with one another to be as colorful and authentic as possible as they painted their faces and wore colorful costumes representative of the many facets of Philippine culture and history.

The Kawit Association marched with a large Filipino flag to commemorate the birth of the Philippine Republic in 1898. The Baguio City contingent wore colorful native costumes and danced to the rhythm of gongs reverberating as if from the Cordillera Mountain region. Pretty ladies under colorful arches of flowers represented the City of San Diego Filipino-American Employees' Association as they portrayed the popular summer festival, Flores de Mayo and Santa Cruzan, just as the Granger Middle School students did later in the parade. The ladies of the Bicol Club marched and danced in their matching colorful Filipina dresses depicting the Gayon Bicol Festival. Other groups were as equally impressive and colorful.

Mrs. Philippine Faire 2007 Crispina Cervantes, Miss Philippine Faire 2007 Christina Marie Malto and Little Miss Philippine Faire 2007 Layla Ali led their royal court as they waved from decorated convertibles. With them were Mrs. Luzon Ameha Jensen, Mrs. Visayas Nedy Lao, Mrs. Mindanao Vicky Dubreil, Mrs. Friendship Angie Enerva, Miss Friendship Vina Rodriguez, Little Miss Friendship Marifel Lopez and Little Miss Unity Jennifer Corpuz.

Other beauties who also joined the parade were Mrs. Philippine Faire 2006 Myrna T.F. Reyes; the Philippine American Community of San Diego County’s Miss Philippines 2006 Fresas Flores; Miss Manila 2006 Marie Fernandez ; Miss Visayas Beverly Pitogo; and others, including Jessica Acasio Merlan, Miss Dagupan City 2007.

The drill team from Morse High School wowed the crowd with their fancy marching in front of the parade viewing stand. Nurses from Sharp Cabrillo Hospital in their yellow t-shirts earned the crowd’s resounding applause as they danced to the beat of the popular Filipino song “Boom Taratarat.” Other groups also performed 2-minute dances and other portrayals for the VIP’s seated at the viewing stand.

In addition to Mayor Morrison, local government officials in attendance included San Diego City Mayor Jerry Sanders, Supervisor Greg Cox, Chula Vista City Mayor Cheryl Cox, Assemblymember Mary Salas, Councilmember & President Pro-Tem Tony Young, Councilmembers Louie Natividad, Rosalie Zarate, Frank Parra and Fidelis Ungab. Also present were Mitz Lee, Vice President of the San Diego Unified School District, Arlie Ricasa, President of the Sweetwater Union High School District, Manny Doria, representing Congressman Bob Filner, and others.

After the parade, a brief opening ceremony at the stage in Kimball Park was climaxed with the release of red, white and blue balloons, symbolic of the rising aspirations of the Filipino-American community. The day long program that followed consisted of cultural songs and dances to entertain the large crowd that gathered at the park. Kimball Park was dotted with booths -- almost double the number of booth in 2006 -- displaying and providing health and other services, cultural artifacts and various entrepreneurial offerings of and for Filipino-American in San Diego. The PASACAT Dance Company and the Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, the Music and Friends Choir and Moda Filipina 2007, a fashion show by designer Boodgie Arce, combined with songs and dances from youth groups to entertain the audience. After the opening ceremonies, the Philippine Faire titleholders and their courts were formally introduced to the public, as were the 2007 COPAO scholarship awardees: Jemmianne Bautista of Eastlake High (Academic Excellence), Elma Joy Trinindad of Otay Ranch High (Leadership), Michael Sevilla of Junipero Serra High (Athletics) and Edrilyn Besalda of Sweetwater High (Community Service).

The crowd of thousands moving around the 80-plus booths was very pleased with the faire. A young mother with a three or four year old girl in tow, exclaimed, "We really enjoyed today and we'll see you again next year!" They were among the last ones to leave the event long after the "official" close of the program.

Another woman commented that "It was a good idea letting us know about this event by leaving messages in our mailboxes and doors" (She was referring to the messages and flyers COPAO distributed to houses in the vicinity of the parade route.)

Under the guidance of COPAO president Rita Andrews, Philippine Faire 2007 was coordinated by executive director Merly Ferrer. Chairs of major committees were Al Villamora, parade; Regina Agarma and Myrna Reyes, popularity contest; Juanito Amor, Jr., program; Cyd Gallardo, scholarship and awards; Benny Valerio, logistics; Vina Phelps and Missy Martinez, hospitality; Albert Halili, booths; Ditas Yamane, marketing; Rudy Liporada, publicity; George Alfonso, raffles and tickets; and Cynthia French, advertisements. They were supported by officers and members of the Executive Council and others.

PHILIPPINE FAIRE BEAUTIES FOR 2008 CROWNED

The Atlas Ballroom of the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego was filled with ladies in stunning gowns and gentlemen in smart looking Barongs on May 10, 2008. It was the Filipiniana Night and Coronation Ball, culminating the search for Mrs. Philippine Faire 2008, Miss Philippine Faire 2008, and Little Miss Philippine Faire 2008.

The reigning queens for 2007 did their farewell promenade: Crispina Cervantes, Mrs. Philippine Faire 2007; Christina Marie Malto, Miss Philippine Faire 2007, and Layla Ali, Little Miss Philippine Faire 2007.

The newly crowned queens are Katelyn Marie Gallardo, Little Miss Philippine Faire 2008; Alice Podschun, Mrs. Philippine Faire 2008; and Kristine Faye Bermudez, MIss Philippine Faire 2008. Their royal court is composed of Juliana Bridget Gaehner, Little Miss Friendship 2008; Angeleah Tala Padilla, Little Miss Unity 2008; and Maria Elena Martinez, Mrs. Philippine Faire Friendship 2008.