Cultural pride and patriotism will be on display this weekend as the Filipino Association of Airdrie looks to celebrate their country at this year’s 2023 Filipino SummerFest.
On Aug. 13 starting at 10 a.m., the Filipino Airdrie Association (FAA) will be hosting their second Filipino Summerfest at Nose Creek Park.
The first Filipino SummerFest was held in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic put the world in a state of hiatus. With the world back up and running, the FAA hopes to make the Summerfest an annual tradition.
Co-event coordinator Rhona Malivrran said they are trying to bring traditional Filipino games into the lives of the younger generations of Filipinos born in Canada. She added with advancements in technology, children spend more time indoors and less time interacting with others. They hope to change this at the upcoming event.
“Most of the kids now, they are just on their gadgets,” she said. “We want them to come out of their comfort zone, play with some of the kids, and see what we were playing before when we were kids.”
According to co-event coordinator Carol Brosoto, most of the games involve teams and competition. Currently, pre-registration is open for teams to sign up, Brosoto added. Groups consist of roughly five to 10 players, depending on the game being played.
Planning the festival started with securing the location, obtaining insurance, and seeking out donations and sponsorships. Brosoto said the Airdrie community has been very generous in trying to help the non-profit prepare for the event.
“I see a lot of people wanting to help,” she said. “Even though we don’t ask, they come to us. I’m very happy with it, and we’re very grateful for it.”
The Filipino SummerFest will see several events taking place throughout the day, including performances from local Filipino musicians and artists. Performers include Ivan Martin, Bal Pascual, Lady Boss, Jazmeen Mae Nierva, Jeanae Elisha Ventura, St. Paul’s Church Choir, and Syncho Band.
Attendees of the event can expect a day full of fun with dancing, singing, and games. Brosoto confirmed there will also be two food trucks onsite.
Brosoto hopes the Filipino SummerFest can become an annual tradition in Airdrie, where family and friends can come together to celebrate the city’s vibrant Filipino community. According to Stats Canada's latest census, there are roughly 1,400 Filipino residents within the city.
“We want to do it every year to make it big,” she said. “It’s like an anniversary to meet, socialize and interact with other friends.”
More information regarding the games and how to pre-register a team can be found on the FAA's Facebook page.
