ShareThisThe Philippine Fest Chicago (Piyesta Pinoy sa Chicago), held last Sunday, 23 March 2014 from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 pm, at Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens was declared a success by organizers.
The afternoon event, presented by the Navy Pier in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF), involved active participation from the Filipino-American community in Illinois.
Parade of costumes by the performers and participants, marking the start of the Philippine Fest 2014 at the Navy Pier.
This event is part of the Neighborhoods of the World Program of Navy Pier from 2 March to 13 April to support the City of Chicago’s mission of providing cultural entertainment to the public. The Filipino-American community was represented for the third time at this annual event in Navy Pier, which is dubbed as the no.1 entertainment and leisure destination in Chicago and the entire Midwest region with as many as 100,000 daily visitors.
In his welcome remarks, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim thanked all who braved the cold Chicago weather to be at the Crystal Gardens. He stated that Filipinos are a fun-loving people with lots of fiestas, and who are proud to be present in Navy Pier to show how proud they are of their culture and their heritage.
The afternoon event featured a display of Philippine arts and crafts, Philippine tourism and information materials, art workshops, performances of Filipino cultural dances in colorful costumes, rondalla music as well as Filipino folk songs, OPM, modern and contemporary music by local Fil-Am talents. There was also food, arts and crafts vendors during the festival. About 1,500 people attended the event.
The support of the Filipino-Americans in Chicago on this occasion helped promote the Philippine’s rich cultural heritage to the mainstream audience.