CELEBRATING PINOY CULTURAL IDENTITY. Performers present traditional dance to Japanese and Filipino visitors at the Aobi Park in Shizuoka Prefecture. (Photo courtesy of Pistang Pinoy page)
MANILA – The Philippines is known for its multitude of "fiestas" or festivals going on nationwide all year round -- from celebrating good harvest to remembering patron saints and key figures in the Bible.
Bringing this vibrant Filipino culture abroad, the Filipino community brought the third installment of Pistang Pinoy last week in Shizuoka, delighting around 10,000 Filipinos and Japanese with a day-long celebration and reintroduction of Philippine cultural identity.
"It was very well received by the Japanese people who visited, especially since there was a cultural performance by the Sidlakan Dance Company," Consul General Robespierre Bolivar told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.
The annual Filipino affair, organized by the Association of Pinoy Volunteers for Assistance, featured around 69 booths selling Filipino food, handicrafts and other products.
It kicked off with “Tagsibol", a concert on the evening of April 13th featuring the Dumaguete-based multi-awarded Sidlakan Dance Company that performed modern jazz-inspired interpretations of classic Filipino dances and mythology, including “Si Malakas at si Maganda,” Mamanok, Tinikling, Singkil and Masskara.
During the fest, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V highlighted the fact “that the Philippine fiesta is known to the world as a colorful, dynamic and enjoyable experience."
"The Japanese have wonderful ways to welcome spring, and their traditions are as colorful as the season they celebrate. While we do not have four seasons in the Philippines, our fiestas are as meaningful, and as symbolic, as the traditions that we who live in Japan have adopted," he said.
For every Hanami or flower viewing in Japan, the Philippines has the Baguio Panabenga to offer.
For every Obon or the Japanese custom of honoring their ancestors, its Southeast Asian neighbor also has the Undas where its locals gather to remember their departed loved ones.
"Each festival is distinct. Each festival highlights wonderful aspects of our identity as Filipinos. And most of all, each festival strengthens our community spirit – our Bayanihan spirit," Laurel said.
Bolivar, meanwhile, described “Tagsibol”, or spring in Filipino, as a fitting theme for the celebration since the Philippines as a country is in the midst of an economic resurgence.
"When you visit, I'm sure you will know how different it is (in the Philippines), you can see the progress, you can see tagsibol, you can see the spring in our country, umaarangkada na ang ating ekonomiya (our economy is booming)," he said.
The first two editions of the Pistang Pinoy sa Shizuoka were held on 2014 and 2017, respectively. This year, it was held at the Aobi Park on April 14.
The consul general said the embassy fielded a Consular Outreach Team to Shizuoka to take advantage of the significant number of Filipinos who joined the festival.
During this outreach, at least 516 Filipinos availed themselves of various consular services. (PNA)
