Filipinos Making Waves Canada

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

We live in an exciting era of diversity and change. We celebrate our distinct cultures with pride and purpose. Wherever we may live, work or develop our roots, we provide a window into our culture and open doors to the heart and soul of our communities.

FOCUS PHILIPPINES & FRIENDS CULTURAL ARTS AND MUSIC

We are Toronto-based entrepreneurs, artists, media pro-

fessionals and communitymembers pledged to spur broader

multicultural awareness and appreciation of out Philippine

heritage and Filipino Canadian cultural life.  This shared vision

of diversity is seed to our organization’s success and promise of a

long life of service to the community.  We can only be successful

in this core mission with the generous support and active partner-

ship of public institutions and private organizations across cultures,

geography and social purpose. Our cultural productions,starting

with Making Waves Festival will engage our artists and cultural torch-

bearers, community merchants and public leaders in the exposition of a dazzling array of Filipino material culture as world-class Canadian public events.

YONGE-DUNDAS SQUARE

For the first time ever, Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS), located at one of

Canada’s busiest intersections, will be the host venue of the 3rd Filipinos

Making WavesFestival. The Square is adjacent to the Toronto Eaton Centre,

Canada’s busiest shopping centre and top tourist destination with over 52

million visitors annually.  It is only minutes from several major attractions

including the CN Tower,Rogers Centre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal

Ontario Museum, the Elgin Theatre, the Canon Theatre, the Air Canada

Centre, the Princess of WalesTheatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the

Hummingbird Centre, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  The Square is connected to the PATH, the world’s largest underground shopping complex with 27 km (16 miles) of shopping arcades.

The Yonge-Dundas Square influence area contains the highest concentration of hotels within the GTA with a total of more

than 10,000 rooms.  Two major Universities are within the influence area – Ryerson and the University of Toronto with a

combined full-time attendance of 56,000 students and also contain over 21,000 residents.  Each day over 860,000 people

enter the influence area to work. Retailers employ over 14,000 people in over 3,800 retail outlets within the influence area.

There are over 500 restaurants within walking distance.   The Square has a direct entrance to Dundas Subway Station, is

located on the Dundas Street car line and all-night Yonge Street bus line. The Square is also situated atop a 250 spot

parking garage.

Based at Toronto Transit (TTC) 2005 statistics, the daily Square’s Dundas Subway Platform Usage Count is 59,280.

Daily Inter-section traffic is over 62,100 pedestrians and 55,500 vehicles (source: City of Toronto, 2002).

Event Specific Attendance, 2006 is 660,235 and the Total Annual Venue Circulation is 28,506,500 visitors (source: Clear Channel Outdoor,2003).

FILIPINOS MAKING WAVES FESTIVAL

Filipinos Making Waves Festival takes a bow as a three—day cultural extra-

vaganza onAugust 14-16, 2009 at the heart of Toronto, the YDS

(Yonge-Dundas Square).  As part of its Heritage Day Celebrations, YDS is

pleased to present the festival to its mainstream audience in cooperation

with Focus Philippines. It will showcase outdoor performances and ethnic

booths. TheFilipino Making Waves Festival is produced by Focus

Philippines Festivals of Arts and Music in partnerships with YDS, Downtown

Yonge BIA, Philippine Department of Tourism, Philippine government agencies, other artistic partners, corporate supporters

and Philippine sponsors. The weekend puts the spotlight on beautiful Philippines, featuring its vibrant and colourful culture.

The fun-filled entertainment schedule promises to be a memorable treat for all Yonge-Dundas Square visitors. Imagine this

first-ever Filipino festival in great colour and pageantry at Yonge-Dundas Square:  colourful indigenous Ati-Atihan dancers,

a folk and rondalla string ensemble and kulintang music (Muslim per-

http://www.filipinosmakingwaves.com

cussion) will surely captivate your attention.  Filipino world-class

singers, instrumentalists, cultural dancers , plus TV and film ,cele-

brities will converge at the main stage. Hear and see up close

remarkable Filipino talents who are making waves in Canada and

around the world! Major exporters from the Philippines will give

Toronto a wide selection of Filipino arts, crafts and food products.

And delicious Filipino culinary treats await you at the Philippine tent.

Experience the distinct Filipino hospitality as they share fantastic

art and entertainment for your total enjoyment.  They will sizzle and

dazzle at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto’s best place to immerse

in the living cultures of the world.

Barrio Fiesta sa London

http://www.barriofiestasalondon.com/

The Philippine Fiesta Victoria

The Philippine Fiesta Victoria 2008

The Philippine Fiesta of Victoria Inc. ( PFVI)  is celebrating its 26^th anniversary on 29-30 November 2008. The Philippine Fiesta  is indeed the time of the year that the Filipinos all over Victoria and our ‘kababayan‘ from different  states of Australia convene and celebrate one of the biggest and joyful Filipino-Australian  events.

 Headed by Ross Manuel (the present Fiesta’s chairperson), this year’s Fiesta theme veers from the  usual Filipino cultural motif,  but instead focuses on global orientation  - the staunch support for the worldwide protection of nature and  environment .

 Currently, the Philippine Fiesta executive committee is busy planning and working for the coming  of the two-day celebration. This active and dedicated group sees to it that the Fiesta this year will be bigger, busier and merrier with invited young actors gracing the occasion with the complement of  ABS-CBN.  

 Within its 26 years of existence, the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria has come a long way. It started in the summer of November 1982 when a group of  enthusiastic Filipinos, with a fervent desire to relive the colorful festivity from home, celebrated the first Philippine Fiesta ever   at the Caribbean Garden, at Knox City,  Victoria,  Australia. 

 The first Fiesta was spearheaded by the Federations of Filipino Associations of Victoria (FFAV) and  the group was composed of officers and members of the Filipino Tradesmen Association (FILTAV), Filipino Community Welfare Service (FCWS), Filipino Association of Victoria (FAV), University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA), Silayan Dance Troupe (SDT) and the Filipino Friendship Society (FAF).

 Due to the success of the initial celebration, the FFAV organized another Fiesta in 1983 at Foostcray Park, a western suburb of Melbourne.  Thus, the fiesta became an annual event  because of the active participations of other Filipino-Australian organizations and the attendance of the growing Filipino-Australian populace in Victoria. For five successive year (1983-1988), the Philippine Fiesta organized by FFAV and FCW were held at Foostcray Park..

 In 1987, the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria  Inc (FPVI) was formally established and was duly incorporated through the efforts of the of the committed leaders  and members of different  community organizations in Victoria. During this period,  the  Philippine Fiesta Constitution was made and an  executive committee was formally elected.

 For years Philippine Fiesta had been celebrated in the different suburbs of Melbourne, but in 1994. the Fiesta executive committee purchased a sprawling property of 1.92 hectares in Laverton which becomes the permanent site of the annual festivity. The place was the former Laverton Primary School and is close to public transport which makes the Fiesta more accessible to a number of people. The  site becomes  a Philippine community centre wherein a number of  Filipino-Australian activities are held.

 True to its primary objective in promoting the Filipino arts, culture and traditions, the Philippine Fiesta,   during its two-day celebration,  features exhibits, paintings, songs, sports and dances that showcased the richness of our cultural heritage. 

 Through the years, the annual Philippine Fiesta has grown into a bigger proportion with people  looking forward to meet friends, taste an array of delicious Filipino cuisines and enjoy live entertainment provided by local Filipino-Australian talents and famous luminaries  from the Philippines. Every year, the number of people attending the fiesta has increased. Last year’s attendance has escalated to more than 8,000.00 individuals  The coronation of Miss and Mrs Philippine Fiesta of Victoria Quest, which greatly assists to maintain the Fiesta,  add to the gaiety and glamour  of  this yearly festivity.

 Thanks to the committed members of the Philippine Fiesta Victoria Inc. especially to the Filipino leaders, community organizations, volunteers and individuals to the success of this festive occasion and in keeping the  spirit of the Philippine Fiesta forever burning in Australia. Indeed, the Philippine Fiesta has been the truly icon of the Filipino community in Victoria.   

http://www.philfiesta.com/index.htm