Yes, it is the 10th Filipino American Festival at this year’s event. In celebration of
the 10 th year Anniversary cultural heritage, the 10th Annual Filipino American
Festival will be held on Sunday, September 4, 2022 from 12pm to 7:00pm at the
New Overpeck Bergen County Park located at 199 Challenger Road, Ridgefield
Park, NJ 07660, Bergen County.
As FAFI celebrates its ten years of uninterrupted service to the community, this
non-profit organization take this opportunity to let you know that their success in
celebrating cultural heritage year after year was an enormous job. FAFI also
helped tackled those who were affected by the pandemic specially our Senior
Citizens through Covid-19 Food Drives and helped the people in need by
extending Typhoon Disaster Fund to those who were affected by the disastrous
calamity. We also spearheaded the “Stop Asian Hate” March together with 30
Asian American organizations and gathered 2000 marchers and many media
presence that covered the event. In FAFI, they organize and host the most awaited
celebration by bringing together the community in celebrating cultural heritage and
bring together business leaders, philanthropic leaders, community leaders and
young generation leaders that bring us all together into one common goal. FAFI’s
mission to create more community participation specially the next generation
Filipinos have finally reached this ongoing relationships by bringing awareness on
advocacy, educational importance, preserving our culture, value the importance of
heritage integral in making awareness in the community as part of the mainstream
America.
Social media promotions are the heart of FAFI’s marketing campaign. We are on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram said Ludi Hughes, Chairwoman of FAFI. We
also have email blasts to everyone. We are also at the New Jersey State’s list of
events visitnj.com where some people found FAFI for an event. Through the Live
Streaming, FAFI was able to promote and direct people to see theur website.
Through our website they were able to see all prominent sponsors. www.filipiniamericanfestival.com
FAFI’s Signature Fashion Show featured our Filipino American men and women, teenagers and young children wearing our cultural dresses. 2021 Fashion Show featured Central Mindanao Indigenous People’s hand woven fabrics. Socksargen USA continuously supports the promotion of its homegrown artisans and the craftsmanship of talented designers like Ador Feliciano (Manny Pacquiao’s wife designer) and the handwoven fabrics of our Indigenous people in Mindanao. FAFI has a very unique festival compared to other Filipino Festivals and this is why: “We made it a practice that our festival will be inclusive to everyone. We are open to anybody who can share with us talents that Filipinos can learn and open to a mainstream”, said Jessica Herb, President of FAFI. Last year’s Pinoy Broadway Ballyhoo was hosted by Scott Siegel, the creator of the famous Broadway Ballyhoo on Broadway orbit. Scott Siegel, the creator/writer/director and host of the critically acclaimed Broadway by the Year Series at Town Hall. Many stars on Broadway performed at Scott Siegel’s Broadway Ballyhoo and now 54 Below performances. Scott is known on Broadway by many. One of the best pianists on Broadway, Eugene Gwozdz-Musical Director and married to a Filipina and Accompanist for Broadway Memories also played the piano for the Broadway artists who performed at FAFI’s event.
“We focused on Cultural Shows. Many Filipino groups as many as 30 performers in one performance deserved to be recognized. Many performers like the Philippine nurses, our frontliners also performed. It was a different settings for them as they struggled throughout the pandemic. Many cultural performances gave the best they can, best costumes, best performances as all of us live in uncertainty. It was a festival that everyone is longing for”, added by Rowena Aquino, former president of FAFI and Chair for FAFI’s Cultural Show.
We are proud in FAFI because many dignitaries like our elected officials, Consul
Generals attend FAFI’s festival. Filipino community was always recognized at
FAFI’s Festival by US Senator, Member of Congress, First Lady of NJ, Assembly
members, County Executive, Commissioners, Sheriff, County Clerk, and many
more. There is so much respect for FAFI organization.
FAFI cannot continue to give a free event without the help of our Major Sponsor
like AT&T. Our Silver Sponsors Hackensack Meridian Health, Blue Cross Blue
Shield of NJ, URW Westfield Garden State Plaza, 1 st 2 nd Mortgage Company, and
Bergen County. We also recognized our Food and Non-Food Vendors for participating. But most of all, FAFI also recognize the hardworking Board
Members: Rowena Aquino, Jessica Herb, Cristy Gania, Mert Lezaron, Madeline
Bansil, Jose Planillo and Abe Aquino, Patrick Hughes and Committee Members
for unselfish dedication to volunteering their time year after year we are in
existence.
You can also visit their website: www.filipinoamericanfestival.com,
Facebook Page: Filipino American Festival, Instagram: Filipino American
Festival, Twitter: @fafi810; visitnj.org. See you all!!!!
