by HFC Staff
Enjoy and celebrate Filipino culture through food, pageantry, special performances and contents at the two-day 53rd Annual Barrio Fiesta event.
The event will be held at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center on Friday, May 27 from 5pm to 10pm and Saturday, May 28 from 10am to 10pm.
This year’s fiesta is dedicated in memory of the late Agrifina “Aggie” Cabebe, the first chairperson of the Barrio Fiesta. She was also known as the “Mother of Filipino Folk Dance in Maui.” The first fiesta was initiated by the Maui Filipino Community Council on May 31, 1970.
“Binhi at Ani is forever indebted to Mrs. Cabebe,” said Alfredo Evangelista, co-chairperson of the Barrio Fiesta committee and a former dance student of Cabebe.
“Mrs. Cabebe was the first president of Binhi at Ani back in 1985 when it was incorporated. Her contributions to Binhi at Ani and Maui’s Filipino community will never be matched and it’s fitting Binhi at Ani dedicates this Barrio Fiesta – the first live one in two years – in her memory.”
The in-person celebration will feature traditional Filipino food, local favorite dishes and a Farmer’s Market.
Filipino cultural performances from the Assumpta Choir, Dance International Production, La Galeria: Compania Baile Filipino and the Students of Aggie Cabeb will entertain the crowd.
Pageantry is also a big part of Filipino culture and for this year’s Miss Barrio Fiesta Pageant, the contestants vying for the crown are Angel Alba, Audryanah Latayada Starmer and Kyara Tumacder.
In addition, the Center will have a replica of a Bahay Kubo and other cultural villages representing several regions of the Philippines.
Several special events will be highlighted at the fiesta as well such as The Santa Cruzan depicting the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena featuring the Miss Barrio Fiesta queena, the Veterans Memorial Service, the introduction of the Miss Maui Filipina contestants and the Outstanding Housekeepers Awards.
For visitors up for a challenge, Filipino cultural games and special contests are offering large prizes ranging $250 and up for first place. The games include The Barrio Fiesta Voice, Barrio Wear Contest, Climb the Greased Pole Contest, Da Pansit Eating Contest, the Sungka, Pabitin and Sabado Art Foundation Keiki Art Party.
“We’re very pleased to continue with the preservation of our Filipino culture by annually having the Barrio Fiesta,” said Nora Cabanilla-Takushi, this year’s Chairperson.
“The Barrio Fiesta is the longest running Filipino fiesta in the United States and we are proud to have it here on Maui. There is definitely something for everyone. And it’s a great way to continue to share our culture with all of Maui and to be with old and new friends.”
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