California Lutheran University’s FILO Club hosted its second annual “Barrio Fiesta” on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Kingsmen Park, celebrating Filipino American History Month with new activities, performances and vendors.
The event, held in collaboration with the Center for Cultural Engagement and Inclusion, was the first to include traditional Filipino food, along with performances by Tae Ryong Taekwondo and FILO Club.
Unlike last year’s Saturday celebration, this year’s Barrio Fiesta took place during the school week to increase turnout, according to Jayden Baltazar, a junior and co-president of FILO Club.
“This year, being on the Wednesday, our idea is we can get more students [to attend],” Baltazar said. “I hope they just have a good time and they just feel like FILO Club is something they want to join.”
Vendors included Lily’s Seramics, Ube Club Co., Donut Depot, Potassium Crafts and handcrafted nails by Guadalupe Molina, along with a bingo game and karaoke hosted by FILO Club.
“We kind of give, like, a debrief before maybe each activity, you know, [explaining] its significance, its cultural significance or historical impact,” said Brendan Manipol, a junior and FILO Club treasurer. “Through doing the activities or performances that students can get engaged in, it’s not just like they’re observing — they’re participating in it.”
Virgilio Ocampo, a Tae Ryong Taekwondo master, led a martial arts performance of Kali, a Filipino form of self-defense. He said he wanted to share the roots of Filipino martial arts with the Cal Lutheran community, since many do not know the history.
“Not a lot of Filipino Americans realize, even in the Philippines they don’t realize, they have their own martial arts,” Ocampo said. “We’re here to kind of share the roots and share the origins of the art.”
Ocampo, who lived in the Philippines for about two years before growing up in the U.S., said his students demonstrated the art of handwork, blade work and weaponry. Learning about the differences in martial arts styles is important to understanding the history of Filipino culture, according to Ocampo.
“My friends that I’ve grown up with in high school, Filipinos that I’ve befriended, they’ve been second and third generation and they know nothing of the Philippines and their origin,” Ocampo said. “Which is why clubs, like this campus has, is great … because not a lot of people get a chance to even go to the Philippines and see where their family and ancestors came from.”
Rianne Aguilar, a senior and FILO Club vice president, said a highlight of the night was the community showing its support. Rianne Aguilar assisted in choreographing the club’s traditional tinikling performance.
“My favorite part is probably the community and how the turnout was just immaculate,” Rianne Aguilar said. “I’m really happy with the vendors — they’re all also part of our community, so it’s nice to see them show up.”
CraeZ Cravingz catered for attendees, providing two Filipino dishes. Co-owner Sherille Lemus said they provided a choice between pork belly or chicken sisig, served on top of rice and pancit, alongside lumpia and a choice of drink. All 200 food tickets were redeemed.
Luis Lemus, husband of Sherille Lemus and co-owner of CraeZ Cravingz, said that events like the Barrio Fiesta are important in teaching others about different cultures.
“There was a lot of people who aren’t Filipino here, so it teaches them about that different culture,” Luis Lemus said. “It’s good to be well-rounded, you know, know a little bit about everyone.”
Senior Lily Shimabuku, owner of Lily’s Seramics, said that even though she is not Filipino, she wanted to show up to support the FILO Club.
“I like being able to show off my art, but also just like wanting to support my friends and cheer them all on when they do tinikling and just being here,” Shimabuku said.
Miggy Aguilar, Rianne Aguilar’s cousin, said that despite not attending Cal Lutheran as a student, he found it special that non-Filipino attendees ended the night dancing with FILO Club.
“The fact that they had people afterwards participating in [tinikling] really warmed my heart,” Miggy Aguilar said. “Even people that aren’t Filipino wanted to know more about the culture and more about the background behind the dance, [that] makes me really happy.”
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