When the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival organizers decided to hold their first event in August 2012, there were people who said it couldn’t be done. 

But they didn’t give up and more than 5,000 people came. 

Now in its fifth year, the festival is making history by marching down the streets of downtown, ending at Manitoba’s Legislative Building. 

“This is history in the making because no Filipinos have ever, ever marched downtown and we are the first ones,” Aida Champagne, chair of the festival, says. 

With 70,000 Filipinos living in Manitoba, it’s no surprise the festival keeps on growing as people come together to share their cultures and traditions. 

Those participating in the parade will represent some of the many Filipino associations in Manitoba. 

“Our aim is to invite people to have a community get together in the spirit of volunteerism while at the same time promoting the culture, tradition and heritage of the Filipino people in Manitoba,” Champagne says. 

Local talents will perform on the grounds of the Legislative Building after the parade and at night a Filipino movie star will entertain the audience. 

There are two events leading up to the festival. 

The first is the Tiangge Ng Bayan, a Filipino community market held at the Maples Multiplex Arena on June 11 along with the talent portion of the Queen of the Festival competition and the contest for the first-time ever Bulilit Queen (little girl queen). 

The Queen of the Festival competition features 14 women who represent different places in the Philippines who compete to be chosen as the representative of the festival. 

The second event is the coronation night of the Queen of the Festival competition on July 10 at Canad Inns. 

Published in Volume 70, Number 27 of The Uniter (June 2, 2016)