Filipino and Pacific Islander Festival: Honoring and Keeping Cultural Roots Alive in San Antonio
Thousands of attendees from across the region flocked to San Antonio for the third annual Filipino and Pacific Islander Festival this past Labor Day weekend. The event, orchestrated by organizers Angelica Guzman and Khai Sy, aims to provide a platform for Filipinos and Pacific Islanders to not only connect with each other but also share and celebrate their vibrant cultures with fellow Texans.
A Celebration of Unity and Heritage
The festival offers a unique and immersive experience that encapsulates the spirit of the Filipino and Pacific Islander communities. With the aroma of traditional foods wafting through the air, the rhythmic beats of the ethnic music, and the colorful displays from local vendors, attendees are transported to a cultural utopia right at the heart of Texas.
“We want to share our culture with everyone,” states Guzman, expressing the collaborative essence of the event. Sy notes the growth of the festival in its short history, with attendances climbing from hundreds to thousands within three years.
An Impactful Experience
One festival-goer, Alma Manabat Parker from Ketchikan, Alaska, reflects on the significance of such celebrations. Recognizing the influence they can have on different communities, Parker, who likewise organizes a similar festival in Alaska, shares that the event is a crucial stepping stone to “bringing cultures together”.
“It was a great way to just check out what it’s like to have festivals all over the country, and how they compare, how they are different,” says Parker. Noting how food and culture merge harmoniously at these events, she now recognizes the importance of preserving cultural traditions for future generations.
Preserving Traditions for Future Generations
Manabat Parker expresses her hopes of preserving her culture for the future through such events. “‘Why? Why are we cooking this food? When do we cook this food?’ All those little traditions, they slowly will disappear if we’re not always reminded and celebrating them,” she laments, emphasizing the value of cultural awareness.
Instigating Positive Change
The festival also provides an economic boost for local vendors, boosting their visibility while giving visitors a taste of the variegated products and services the Filipino and Pacific Islander communities offer.
As the curtains close on this year’s festival, preparations for the next are already in motion. Sy and Guzman will once again open the gates to fellow Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, and Texans on Labor Day Weekend in 2025, ambitiously hoping to increase the outreach and impact of the festival in the coming years.
Article written by: Devan Karp
Photojournalism by: Alexis Montalbo
