For more information, visit www.plhs.net
For Press Release by PLHS Media
St. Bernard, Louisiana USA - Come October 12, the Philippine Louisiana Historical Society (PLHS), in partnership with the Philippine Consulate-New Orleans Office, the New Orleans Filipino American Lions Club (NOFALC), St. Bernard Parish Government and Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society, will be holding Fiesta Filipina at the Los Isleños Museum Complex (1357 Bayou Road, St. Bernard) in commemoration of the Filipino American History Month.
“For Filipino American families in the US, the month of October is a special time to commemorate the historical imprints and colorful Pinoy (Filipino) culture,” says Philippine Honorary Consul Robert Romero, who is also the PLHS founder. He invites not only Filipino American families but also other groups from different cultures.
A family day and expo, Fiesta Filipina is a full-day feast offering not just traditional games and cultural displays but also an array of sumptuous Pinoy cuisine, historical pieces and artifacts, arts and crafts, and even free health screenings offered by vendors and volunteers.
St. Bernard Parish President Louis Pomes proudly shares how the presence of Filipinos in their parish has been become an integral part to the historic development of the community for over more than two centuries. He emphasizes that St. Malo on the shores of Lake Borgne, being the oldest documented Filipino settlement in the United States, is now recognized as a point of pride in St. Bernard.
"Many Filipinos come to visit the St. Malo Historical Marker at Ducros Museum in Los Isleños Museum Complex focusing attention on our cultural heritage diversity. We are very pleased to support the first Philippine cultural heritage festival in Louisiana at Los Isleños Museum Complex in St. Bernard Parish," Pomes expresses with pride.
St. Bernard Parish Historian and Los Isleños Museum Complex Site Manager Bill Hyland echoes that the Filipinos were significant contributors to the founding of the commercial fishing industry in Louisiana and St. Bernard Parish. According to him, the Canary Islanders or Isleños have interacted with and intermarried with Filipinos now for two centuries, so that the impact of the Philippine presence historically and culturally is highly visible in St. Bernard.
"While there is an older Filipino presence dating at least to the early 19th century, successive waves of Filipinos have continued to settle in St. Bernard Parish to the present. Their cultural cohesiveness continues to be an important element in the distinct identity of 21st century St. Bernard Parish," Hyland says.
"We invite all Filipino American families and friends in the Gulf South and other parts of the US to join this celebration. To those who aren’t familiar with our Filipino culture, join us for an immersive experience that will ignite your spirit like never before,” honorary consul romero invites.
For foodies and aspiring chefs, you don’t want to miss out on a cooking demonstration by talented Filipino chefs like the vivacious Prairieville Chef Mia Estolano-Levert, the master of gata (coconut milk) recipes Chef Roni Dacula, and Paul Prudhomme’s protegee and King of crispy pata (pork leg) Chef Crispin Pasia.
Traditional dances will be performed by talented Filipino volunteers, followed by a fashion show featuring traditional clothing such as barong Tagalogs, Filipiniana gowns, and baro’t saya (blouse and skirt). A hearing screening will be offered by Dr. Cathy Lo, owner of The Hearing Clinic in Thibodaux. A vision screening will be available at the Sucrose Exhibit Area Museum.
Have you ever seen an amazing work of art on a watermelon? Catch Chef Artist and former hotel sous-chef Christopher Cagandahan. He can do more than just food carving; he can also bake homemade Filipino bread.
The organizers of Fiesta Filipina are members of PLHS and NOFALC. The PLHS was established in 2012 to research, promote and commemorate the historical imprints of Filipinos in LA. NOFALC is the first Asian-American Lions Club in Louisiana and is now recognized as the largest in the whole state.
Among the registered food vendors are LeahLicious Authentic Filipino Flavor, Blasian Blend LLC, The Madz Kitchen, Doms Catering, Honey's Kitchen, Mabuhay Sari-sari, and CK's Catering.
First Permanent Filipino Settlements in the US
A highlight at Fiesta Filipina is an Arts and History Exhibit showcasing the stories and artifacts behind the first permanent Filipino settlements in the USA–that being in Louisiana particularly the Manila Village and Clark Cheniere (both in the Town of Jean Lafitte in Jefferson Parish) and St. Malo in St. Bernard Parish. Brochures about this are being displayed at shelves inside all Welcome Centers in Louisiana.
During the late 1800s, a group of Filipino fishermen led by Quintin de la Cruz built a few shelters on stilts on top of some oyster reefs at the mouth of Barataria Bay in South Louisiana. They called it Manila Village to remind them of their homeland and the hundreds of small fishing villages that dotted the coastline of their Philippine Islands.It was the first permanent settlement of Filipinos and perhaps the first Asian-American settlement in the United States. The platform community flourished for several decades until Hurricane Betsy completely destroyed it in 1965. The members of the community were commonly referred to as Manila men, or Manilamen, and later Tagalas.
Another shrimping village called Clark Cheniere was built by a group of Filipinos led by Juan Rojas. Accounts from early settlers relate that in the 1830s, Filipino seamen or Manilamen, were living in palmetto frond huts along Bayou St. Malo. By the 1860s, St. Malo became the largest fishing village on the southern shore of Lake Borgne. It served as an outpost for boats fishing further down the coast. Despite being abandoned early in the 20th century, the village remains significant, representing the many forgotten settlements that helped shape Louisiana history and culture, and a first chapter in the story of Filipino migration to the US.
Fiesta Filipina is also participated by other Filipino American organizations such as Kapitbahay of Greater New Orleans (KBGNO), Filipino American Association of Baton Rouge (FAABR), Filipino-American Association of St. Tammany (FAAST), Filipino-American Fellowship Church (FAFC), Filipino American Friends of Acadiana, Filipino-American Association of the ARKLATEX, Filipino-American Association of Northeast Louisiana, Tangipahoa Filipino American Community (TFAC), and Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana (FEFL).
For more information, visit www.plhs.net
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