London Barrio Fiesta

The London Barrio Fiesta

July 19, 2020 0

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 Every year from 1985 to 2019, Filipinos are drawn together for a day of music, food and Pinoy culture whenever the London Barrio Fiesta is held.  The London Barrio Fiesta event attracts not just Filipinos from the United Kingdom but also from other parts of Europe and even outside the continent. “I used to live in London and during the time I was studying there, I was able to attend the London Barrio Fiesta.  It was really great to see the Filipino culture alive while I was in London. I would expect that three decades on, The London Barrio Fiesta has a far reaching impact not just to the Filipino community but to the people of London,” says Lloyd Tronco, an advertising executive in Manila who is a part of the British Alumni Association in the Philippines. Barrio Fiesta really brings everyone together, especially the Filipino community.  It used to be a one-day event, but as the years went by, one day was not enough so it was extended for another day. Today, the two-day London Barrio Fiesta, is a gathering of the biggest names in the Filipino food business curating food and delicacies representing various regions in the Philippines. It is amazing to see people travelling hours and hours away to be able to get together, spend time with the Filipino community, and of course, eat good Filipino food like those prepared at fiestas back home.  Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, the London Barrio Fiesta has been on annualy without fail for 35 years! The event features the best of Filipino food, cultural performances and live music from local musicians and artists flown from the Philippines. It aims to bring together and capture the unique qualities and spectacles of the Philippine’s fiesta. The London Barrio Fiesta started in 1985 as a small gathering in Holland Park by the Philippine Centre. In the book, Hinabing Gunita: Filipinos in the United Kingdom, Nona Tomelden recalls the first-ever fiesta in Holland Park: “The stage was the grass. The emcee stood on a plastic container. No microphones, no nothing… It was a mini, mini barrio fiesta.” “There weren’t even any tables and chairs,” Tomelden recalls. “We put some bunting up, and there! We had a fiesta! It was very enjoyable. We didn’t make much money but it was okay. People heard about it by word of mouth.” By 2003 Tomelden noted, “sixty thousand people [attended the] two days.” Although it is still referred to as “London Barrio Fiesta,” the celebration is now held in Surrey, not too far from the famous Hampton Court Palace. The London Barrio Fiesta draws Europe’s largest gathering of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. It is sad though that this year's COVID-19 pandemic has doused out all the fun expected from the London Barrio Fiesta.  Hopefully, it will be back next year. 
 
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Features News The London Barrio Fiesta

Every year from 1985 to 2019, Filipinos are drawn together for a day of music, food and Pinoy culture whenever the London Barrio Fiesta is...

Why I have such love, respect and admiration for the Philippines and the Filipino people

July 19, 2020 1

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I first started to visit the Philippines when I was around 18 years old. My journey commenced when I watched Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Up until that point, I have always been a fan of musical theatre and the arts so when I was younger, my hobby was watching various musicals, concerts and live performances as much as possible. I ended up watching Miss Saigon over 50 times at various locations around the UK as well as in New York. I was never any good at Geography and to be honest, when I was younger, I never really had an interest in other countries or world affairs, so to be frank here, I didn’t actually have any clue where the Philippines even was or anything about the Filipino people. However, through watching Miss Saigon, I learned that the majority of the cast were Pinoy including the lead role of Kim, (Lea Salonga) and the alternate Kim (Monique Wilson). In those days, (late 80’s and the 90’s) there was no such thing as Facebook so it was hard to follow the lives of these stars or to learn about other cultures via social media channels. I used to wait at the stage door on many nights, to collect the autographs of the cast and meet them. I even took a few photos, in those treasured days when you actually didn’t know how well your photo had turned out until you got it developed weeks later! (Til this day I still have some Miss Saigon memorabilia which I treasure). So, I guess I developed a passion for Filipinos and Pinoy culture through my love of the show. I believe even now, Miss Saigon can be credited for bringing over a generation of talented Filipino stars and indeed introducing them to the world stage. You only need to look at the impact Lea Salonga has had around the world in terms of promoting the Philippines and her work in musical theatre. As well as being cast as Kim in London at the sweet age of seventeen, she went on to lead in other shows including Les Miserables where she played Eponine, and even performed at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. There have been successive stars who have helped to introduce Filipino culture and talent to the world stage. These include many other cast members including Monique Wilson, Miguel Diaz, Joanna Ampil, Pinky Amador and now Jon Jon Briones (who starred as the Engineer in the last production in the UK as well as being in the original cast back in 1989) and the collection of more emerging Filipina talents such as Rachelle Ann Go, and the American-born Filipina Eva Noblezada who plays Kim in this amazing revival. This article however is not really about Miss Saigon, what it is about in fact is the impact the Philippines and Filipino people have had on my life. So many people ask me why I love the country and people so much? I guess through my experiences and the hospitable welcome I received when I made my first trip ever abroad to the Philippines when I was eighteen years old; I have engraved the Philippines in my heart and mind. So the question remains, why do I have such love, respect and admiration for the Filipino people? There are some eleven million overseas Filipino workers or OFW’s around the globe. You see Filipino’s in nearly every airport, hotel, hospital, care home, airline and other service sector industry around the world, caring for and helping people; be it looking after a sick relative, caring for the elderly, looking after people’s homes or family or serving the public. Filipino’s are in my opinion a very caring and hospitable people, what helps them to stand out I believe and make them so employable in these sectors is their passion, dedication, empathy and of course their smile and ‘can do’ attitude. Filipino’s are never afraid of working hard to support their families and pursue their dreams. How many Filipino’s do you see relying on benefits or state support? In the Philippines, there is no unemployment benefit or many of the other benefits that we often take for granted here in the UK and Europe. Hard work and sacrifice therefore prevail, to the point of some Filipino’s being forced to leave their homes and families to seek a better life abroad is something all too common and I believe admirable. Filipinos have managed to blend into society, culture and accommodated to different lifestyles worldwide. My worry with this however is that sometimes Filipino’s may need a voice, as they are often very tragically taken advantage of and mistreated due to their caring, accepting attitudes, unwilling to make a fuss or seem out of place. I never really wanted to become a voice or indeed campaign for Filipino issues and concerns, although through the power of social media and my writing of ‘Open Letters,’ I have stood up and become one of those voices who believe that the Filipino people deserve only the upmost respect and admiration for their contribution to the world. This voice needs to be heard and the rights of Filipino’s worldwide need to be respected and upheld. Finally, I would like to see a day when leaving the Philippines in search of work and a better life becomes a choice and not a necessity, God bless the Philippines and her people. Mabuhay tayong lahat.' 
 

 
 
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<a href="https://www.fil-event.com/2020/06/looking-back-to-my-visit-to-philippines.html">Looking back to my visit to the Philippines in 2017 </a> 
 
 
In 2017, I was able to visit my beloved Philippines. I took the trip towards the end of the year. One of the highlights of that November trip was a visit to the Rizal Park where the National Hero, Jose Rizal is interred.......<a href="https://www.fil-event.com/2020/06/looking-back-to-my-visit-to-philippines.html">Read More</a> 
 
 
 
 
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<a href="https://www.fil-event.com/2020/06/why-i-have-such-love-respect-and.html">Why I have such love, respect and admiration for the Philippines and the Filipino people </a> 
 
 
I first started to visit the Philippines when I was around 18 years old. My journey commenced when I watched Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Up until that point, I have always been a fan of musical theatre and the arts so when I was younger, my hobby was watching various musicals, concerts and live performances as much as possible.......<a href="https://www.fil-event.com/2020/06/why-i-have-such-love-respect-and.html">Read More</a> 
 
 
 
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Features News Why I have such love, respect and admiration for the Philippines and the Filipino people

I first started to visit the Philippines when I was around 18 years old. My journey commenced when I watched Miss Saigon at the Theatr...

Department of Tourism releases meetings, conventions guidelines under MGCQ

July 19, 2020 0

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The Department of Tourism published on Wednesday the guidelines for the holding of meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). The DOT Administrative Order No. 2020-03 states that MICE suppliers, exhibitors, and venue operators can only use up to 50 percent of the total venue capacity in their events. Only those living in areas under MGCQ are allowed by DOT to participate in a MICE event. 
 
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 The Tourism Department also orders MICE organizers to implement strict health and safety protocols in the conduct of their events. MICE exhibitors should also comply with relevant guidelines of the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and other related government agencies in observing the minimum public health and safety standards. DOT also clarified in its directive that MICE events are still not allowed in areas under enhanced community quarantine, modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), and general community quarantine (GCQ). This means that MICE events are not allowed in Cebu City, placed under MECQ by President Rodrigo Duterte last night until July 31. GCQ areas like Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga City, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, and Basilan are also prohibited from holding MICE events. Last year, the DOT launched the MICE Roadmap 2030 which targets a ₱24.4 billion revenue from the convention industry by 2030.

Features Department of Tourism releases meetings, conventions guidelines under MGCQ

The Department of Tourism published on Wednesday the guidelines for the holding of meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MI...

London Barrio Fiesta

The London Barrio Fiesta

Why I have such love, respect and admiration for the Philippines and the Filipino people

Department of Tourism releases meetings, conventions guidelines under MGCQ

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