Events

The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture

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By Winston Emano

When: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7
Where: Point Fermin Park, San Pedro, 807 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro 90731

It’s the first weekend after Labor Day and with that, the time is once again upon us to celebrate collectively at Southern California’s largest, annual community-wide Filipino American tradition: The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC).

Remarkably, this year marks our 17th edition of providing a genuine, rare showcase for the diversity of our culture and the wealth of our talent and, above all, to celebrate our unabashed pride in being Filipino. Your past participation as covering media professionals has assisted greatly in giving what is still a purely non-profit, grassroots exercise in community-building, something with which we can all be proud.

On behalf of my all-volunteer boardmembers, the tireless and gracious staff and our army of selfless, dedicated volunteers — your neighbors, cousins, kababayan all — I humbly invite your coverage for this weekend.

Each FPAC brings with it a unique set of challenges, chief among them, the need to at least equal the high standard in programming set by the previous years. We believe that we’ve done that again this year.

Here are some highlights:

- Joe Bataan. A certified legend in the world of Latin Soul and Disco in the 60s, 70s and 80s, this New York native — born Bataan Nitollano to a Filipino father and an American mother — graces FPAC for the 3rd time. FPAC remains the first and only venue where this popular singer/musician has performed before his own. Catch him before he embarks on his already sold-out concert run in Paris, France.

- Christine “Happy Slip” Gambito. A contemporary phenom, Christine is arguably the world’s most popular internet celebrity, as her mini-webisodes have generated over 10 million(!) views on Youtube. Her high visibility and her humorous musings on her cultural upbringing have garnered her an appointment as “Ambassdor for Philippine Tourism by the DOT.

- P.I.C. - Live and direct from New York City, this high energy, new school dance octet first met while film students at NYU. Years later, their little side project has enabled them shows on some of music’s legendary venues including the famed CBGB in New York.

- Modern Dance Crews. - MTV’s smash new hit show “America’s Best Dance Crew” just ended its second season and once again the winning team featured Filipinos. The phenomenon of Filipino American modern dance groups has been a longtime breeding ground for these new tv and concert stars and we present some of the best in all their vibrant, acrobatic, dance glory: Kaba Modern (Irvine), PAC Modern (Long Beach), Carson Street Dancers (Carson) are just a few who will showcase why Pinoys do it best.

- A Tribute to the Filipino DJ - The precursors to our claim as “World’s Best Dancers,” Filipino DJs have been World Champions several times over and are widely acknowledged to be the finest in the contemporary art of turntablism.

In yet another FPAC first, we bring together some of the best, partly in tribute; partly in a ceremonial passing of the torch to the next set of champions.

**Appearances/Emceeing by KTLA Morning Anchor Cher Calvin, Giselle Tongi, Joey Mead, Kababayan LA host, Janelle So, Travis Kraft and many others.

For full schedule of events: www.filamarts.org.

Kita tayo doon! Marami Pong Salamat.

FPAC 2008 slideshow