I CAME, I SAW, I WAS CONQUERED The TAMPA PHILFEST 2016

If your child asked you “What is a Filipino ?”, how would you answer him?,” Joey Omila, Cultural Director of the Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) in Tampa, FLorida, was asking during the Opening Ceremonies of the Filfest held on April 5-7,2016.

Truth to tell, I have not given it a serious thought. NIcknick’s Dad and I have been in Chicago for the past eight years, primarily to help Nick ‘s younger sister babysit for Kix and Lance since birth. And since boys will be boys, there are times they feign to hear you, so we would admonish,”If you are like that, we’ll go back to the Philippines!” , and only then they would stare at us with their big brown eyes, as if to ask where that country we are talking about is…….

Thank God, their Mom Marie and Dad Jonathan agreed that during this Spring Break, we come here to visit their Uncle Nick. Fact is, their Uncle Nick himself had been asking us to see the PhilFest, but we never ran out of alibis: no budget, difficult to take days off, kids still young to appreciate Disney, ad infinitum…..

But now, at 8 and 6 years old, we had no reason not to bring them along, in time for the PhilFest……

AT THE GATE, Nick’s Dad and I just felt so sorry we had not come for the previous PhilFests. Sure, the Junior had always sent us newsletters regarding the occasion, but seeing everybody at the gate, all dressed up in full fashion – Philippine fashion! – I have never felt more Filipino than ever before, especially in our host country!

Everybody seemed eager to be at her post – Reception/ Ticketing, Finance, Program, Food Booth, whatever, and the spirit of volunteerism was alive. Of course, back home, Fiestas would last for a week, tho time is not really of the essence. Here, however, they had to consider that the crowd, generally Filipino, most of them with American/foreign spouses, families and friends, would not skip work for a regular, nay ‘just so’ fiesta!

The five-acre land behind the Bayanihan Center, donated to the PCFI, was gayly decorated with fiesta grafitti you would think you never left home!

I was expecting makeshift booths like the ones I read about in the previous newsletters, but lo, the regional booths, most importantly, the stage, are now concrete. Each of the different associations now have their permanent structures for their activities– the Ilocano, the Bicol, the Visayan, and others, as well as the different professional and NGO groups.

The makeshift booths, meanwhile, were for the interested enterprising groups to display their wares, souvenir items and , mostly, their regional food products for sale – pancit , dinuguan, halo-halo, you name it, they had it. ‘Twas so fun watching the teenagers flock to the turon and the carioca stalls.Even without your asking me, I stayed mostly (istambay) near the Ilocano booth where they had ,’kilawen’, ‘caldereta’ and ‘pakbet’. I was looking for my grandsons, only to find out that they could also not stay far from the La Paz batchoy. Their dad is from Iloilo.

If there was ever a prize for one who could watch almost every show for the whole three days, I could have easily romped with it. We stayed through the beauty competitions, all the talent shows, ( for the kids, as well as adults ) – never mind if it rained the second day – and witnessed that the crowd had not slackened at all. In our own silent way, we tried to see if our choices jived with those of the judges, and in the process, were held in awe as to how the filipino kids could sing in tagalog (probably better than they speak the language) and dance, dress and act Filipino, although they might have gone to the native land, yet.

And when Lilac Cana, the Filipina soprano based in Canada invited to perform at the Philfest, was belting out Broadway classics, arias from famous operas, at the same time favorite kundimans, you could just see our Brother Americans amazed as to how a Filipina can be so versatile.

Repeat: it rained cats and dogs, but no sooner, the crowd kept coming back, and at night, during Revolution, the area was jampacked with students from high schools, colleges and iniversities in Tampa, and close by (even from as far as Tallahassee!) to display their skills. Hardly was there any place to sit and enjoy the show. Parking was tough. What’s with Tampa PhilFest that attracts the youth? Some Filipino youngsters to watch are : Brandon Cantilang (13-year-old singer-performer from Atlanta, Georgia), Rechemae Cooper (winner of Tawag ng Tanghalan), Don Bronto, and many others.

Rex Navarette, the Filipino comedian who was booked to perform for the occasion, could not have said it any better, “You are fair like some caucasians, you are slinky-eyed like your neighboring Asians, you can sing like the Blacks….. Filipino, what are you?”

And when screen heartthrob Gerald Anderson arrived all the way from Manila,thanks to TFC, the second day, he brought the house down. Pandemonium!

The Fashion Show confirmed that the Barong Tagalog and the Filipina Terna have gone a long, long way. They can now stand side by side with the formal wear in social functions hereabouts. As far as I can remember, I haven’t ever seen here or there such a significant revue of coutourier native attire.

The sagala of the winners of the Mrs./Ms. Philfest reminded of the May festivals back home, compleat with the canopies of flowers. Likewise, the ‘yugyugan’ of the participating organizations were reminiscent of Ati-atihan and Maskara festivals.

The Veterans waxed nostalgic with their patriotic ensemble. What is a fiesta without zumba? And there was, and how! No stone unturned, the elderlies were duly recognized. Prizes flowed like honey, courtesy of TFC, PhilFest vendors and private donors. Never a dull moment, thanks to live-wire emcee Emil Inducil Cruz and, of course, the classy Joey Omila.

The Musikong Kawayan Bamboo Orchestra (conducted by, modesty aside, Kix & Lance’s Uncle Nick), played the strains of our songs of our youth and childhood; the Choral Group led by Connie Chanrasmi, herself a Madrigal singer, sang our immortal songs; and the Philippine Performing Arts Company managed by the PCFI Cultural Director himself, Joey Omila of Bayanihan Dance Company fame, showcased the dances from all over our native land, to the awe of everyone in the audience, Filipino and non-Filipino alike.

And when for their Finale, the three groups played and sang and danced our songs of our land, in unison – Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa – I felt like the Bamboo Dancer of NVM Gonzales, though now surer of the pack where I belong. In my whole life, I have never felt prouder to be a Filipino, this time with more resolve, “Taas noo, kahit kanino, Pilipino ay Ako!”

By then, I spotted from the corner of my eye Kix and Lance, staring at their gramma, as if to ask,”Lola, teardrops? ooooooooooo Something about the writer:

Mrs. Pureza Ramiro Pacis has written several articles for the PhilSTAR. Both from Vintar, Ilocos Norte, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Pacis,Sr. have since been residing in Chicago, Illinois after retirement from DAR and DSWD, respectively. Nick, Jr. is a product of MMSU Laboratory High School in Laoag City and the UP College of Music.

The 5- acre compound of the Bayanihan Center in festive mood.

Rex Navarette, noted Filipino comedian, invited to perform during the fest.

Gerald Anderson, ppopular screen heartthrob, straight from Manila, thanks to TFC ,mwowing the crowd.

Search for Mrs. Philfest 2016

Santacruzan of the sagalas, the winners in the Search for Mrs. Philfest

The Musikong Kawayan (Bamboo Orchestra) conducted by Nhick Ramiro Pacis, former member of the UP Concert Chorus.

The Performing Arts Dance Company, led by Joey Omila, former original member, Bayanihan Dance Troupe, currently Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Culltural Foundatio n, Inc., (PCFI).

The article writer, Pureza Ramiro Pacis, with her hubby Nick Pacis, Sr., and her son Nhick Ramiro Pacis, conductor of the Musikong Kawayan.