All roads lead to MacArthur Park in Los Angeles this Saturday, September 3rd for FilAm Arts’ Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture presented in partnership with the Levitt Pavilion.
1. It’s gonna be a hot one! Bring Your Own Water Bottle
The LA Department of Water and Power is providing their mobile water station. FREE water plus none of that microplastic waste.
Remember to wear sunscreen too!
2. Take the Metro or Shuttle Service
Parking can be a challenge around MacArthur Park, so here are several options for those attending.
*There is an Allied parking lot on 611 S Carondelet St, Los Angeles, CA 90057 behind Parkview, which will be closed off to accomodate commmunity members for $10 for all day parking for about 200 spaces.
*Courtesy of Councilmember Kevin De Leon (LA District 14), community members from Eagle Rock/ Glendale area can park at Eagle Rock Plaza at 2700 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041. FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE begins at 3pm every hour and a half thereafter.
*Courtesy of Councilmember Mitch O’ Farrell (LA District 13) , community members from Historic Filipinotown area can park at Rideback Ranch at 1660 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026. FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE begins at 3pm every hour to and from MacArthur Park.
*Skip the hassle of parking and take the bus! Metro Los Angeles is providing 50% discounted Day Fares of $3.50 so Go Metro: Take the B Line (Red) or D Line (Purple) to Westlake/MacArthur Park Station. Plan your trip on Transit app or call 323.GO.METRO.
3. Sign up for covid shots
GET BOOSTED! As a public service for our community, FREE COVID-19 Vaccinations and Boosters will be available during #FPAC2022
FilAm ARTS supports the Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 education campaign We Can Do This efforts to increase education and awareness about COVID-19 vaccines.
4. There’ll be a Rum Garden for 21+
FPAC is free to attend but you will need a ticket to enter the Don Papa Rum Garden and VIP Tent. Sample libations and enjoy the acoustic performances of Filipino-American artists Melody of The Mellow Dees, Belle, Bootleg Orchestra and Demi Voix.
Don Papa Rum is a single island rum from the Philippines, all made on the island of Negros. In the tent you will also be able to taste Brewyard Beer Company’s Ube Wan IPA (yes, ube beer!)
Inside the Rum Garden, you can visit with Kwento Comics, the first all-Asian women comic book company that brings Philippine Mythology to life through an urban fantasy series. In collaboration with Nomsi's calamansi juice and Papo J's Lambanog, you can try the delicious, "Bakunawa Breeze," inspired by one of the mythological creatures from "The Mask of Haliya" comic book series.
Space is limited so get your tickets here.
5. Who’s performing?
This year’s festival will be headlined by Filipino American rapper, music producer and spoken word artist, Ruby Ibarra. Other notable performers include: Kiana V, Jay R, Mica Javier, Ez Mil, Ella Jay Basco, Q-York, Kajo, Headband Andy, DJ CherishTheLuv, Les The DJ, Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts, DJ Joel Quizon, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Filosophy,Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, and Rondalla Club of Los Angeles, led by Tagumpay De Leon, a nationally-renowned Filipino performer and educator recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts
For more info, visit http://www.filamarts-fpac.org and http://filamartsla.org and follow @filamartsla on Instagram and Facebook. See you there!
Cover Photo Credit: Fil-Am Arts LA Instagram
FilAm ARTS (The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture) is thrilled to announce the return of The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California now in its 28th year is open to the public on September 3rd, from 4 - 10 PM at the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park.
The festival was previously held in 2020 that drew a crowd of thousands of viewers from around the world. “Since its inception, FPAC has given countless artists various opportunities to amplify the voices of Filipino-Americans and Filipinos in the diaspora. We all look forward to having FPAC return in person. Kaya natin ito (We can do this),” says Giovanni Ortega, Festival Director.
The Festival (FPAC2022) will feature Filipino food booths curated by Usapan and merchandise booths curated by SoCal Filipinos, a ticketed VIP rum/craft beer garden, a community pavilion led by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, and tons more! This year’s headlining artist is Ruby Ibarra, rapper, music producer, and spoken word artist.
"We’re excited to have FPAC back in person. In true festival tradition, we continue to spotlight a strong lineup of Filipino and Filipino American multidisciplinary artists and vendors.”
Giselle Tongi-Walters, FilAm ARTS Executive Director
The list of mainstage performers includes: cultural performances, Rondalla Club of Los Angeles, Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, new Filipina band, Pinay Voltron, Acapella group Filosophy, Headband Andy, Ella Jay Basco, Kajo, Kiana V, Q-York, Mica Javier, JayR, Ez Mil, DJ Joel Quizon, Les The Dj and DJ CherishTheLuv.
FilAm Visual Artists also create a living memorial to honor our community members who we’ve lost to COVID these last few years in partnership with AF3IRM, Los Angeles. “Levitt Los Angeles shares the beliefs that by celebrating the cultural diversity of our city we can create more connected communities and strengthen the social fabric of Los Angeles,” says Allison Keating, Executive Director of Levitt LA.
Cover Photo Credit: The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) Instagram
"Having our community gather virtually at this time is so necessary to reiterate how much art is essential during this pandemic, not only to celebrate our heritage and pride but claim our space in the fabric of American and the global society. The tireless work that goes into mounting this endeavor requires support, patronage and funding. With showcases that span many disciplines, we need our community to chip in, during this time of need," said Giselle Tongi-Walters, FilAm ARTS Programming Director.
Admission is free, but RSVPs are requested. FREE and VIP Tickets are available here. Consider donating to FilAm Arts, a nonprofit organization that presents the Festival of Philippine arts and culture 2020 and please RSVP or get a vip ticket at filamarts.org.
Hear why you should attend FPAC 2020 from the artists, celebs & community involved below:
FilAm ARTS (The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture) announced the return of its popular Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California. FPAC 2020 will take place virtually October 23, 24, and 25 from 7 - 10 PM, streaming on multiple platforms: Facebook Live, YouTube, the filamartsla.org website and the kumu app, the #1 mobile app currently in the Philippines.
After a two year hiatus, FPAC returns with an impressive lineup of Filipino American artists in the following disciplines: Musika (Music), Literatura (Literature), Sayaw (Dance), Philippine Martial Arts, Pelikula (Film), Komedya (Comedy), Literatura (Literature), Kulinarya (Culinary), Teatro (Theatre), Tradisyonal (Traditional Dance) and Bisual (Visual Arts). The following notable artists have confirmed their participation in this year’s virtual experience: musicians Apl.de.Ap, Ruby Ibarra, Klassy, Jocelyn Enriquez, and actors Jonjon Briones (Ratched), Isa Briones (Picard), Nico Santos (Superstore/Crazy Rich Asians), Alain Uy (Helstrom on Hulu), standup comedians Rex Navarrete and JR de Guzman, choreographer Phil Tayag (Bruno Mars), Kiana V and more.
“We’re humbled to have our community celebrate its tradition once again and this year’s theme, ‘Tuloy Po Kayo’ (‘Welcome! Please come in.’) couldn’t be more apropos given the unique times we’re in.” said Winston F. Emano, FilAm ARTS Board Director. “Some may recall that the first-ever FPAC in 1992 also came after a period of much uncertainty and over a quarter of a century later, its return is a wonderful reminder to us all of the power of arts to heal and of our culture to affirm. It’s good to be back!”
Premiering a week after the Los Angeles riots in 1992, FPAC has presented countless artists in a multitude of disciplines to multigenerational audiences nearing an estimated half million attendees over the course of 26 consecutive years. But, this year marks its first as a virtual presentation.
The 27th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) officially kicks off Fiipino American History Month with a visual arts group exhibition on artsteps.com The exhibit features works by Bren Bataclan, Gigi Bio, Mic Dino Boekelmann, Lek Vercauteren Borja, Alex J. Cabalu, Pia Cabanela, champoy, Calvin Coloma, Jolly De Guzman, John DeCastro, Christopher Dimaano, Trinidad Escobar, Nicanor Evangelista, Jr., Jade Hoyer, David Ignacio, Thea Ivens, Jeanine Jalandoni, KarlosAnthony, Lola x Kenneth Collaboration, Marissa Lynn, Matt Manalo, Jessa Mae Mendiola, Michael Rippens, Andrew Rogge, Gloria Elisa Margarita Sanchez, Diyan Valencia, T. Jay Santa Ana and Christopher Angelo Perez Yniguez. The show is curated by Nica Aquino and can be accessed as a virtual gallery at artsteps.com. FPAC 27 culminates in grand fashion over three action-packed days, October.
“We’re excited to debut FPAC on a first-ever virtual stage but, in festival tradition, we continue to spotlight a strong lineup of Filipino and Filipino American multidisciplinary artists,” said Giselle Tongi-Walters, FilAm ARTS Programming Director. “The hard work, long hours and dedication
put in by the production team -- helmed by award-winning filmmaker Charles Uy -- and our amazingly passionate Festival Builders alike has been nothing short of community-strengthening and inspiring and we are certain that our artists will provide equal inspiration through their art and performances.”
“It's a blessing in disguise presenting FPAC virtually this year. When FPAC was presented on physical stages, only people here on the West Coast were able to attend the event. We now get to exhibit and discover the artists in more personal setting through our live streams to a global audience,” shares Charles Uy, FPAC 2020 Festival Technical Director. “When growing up in Queens, NY, I always wondered what it meant to be Filipino- American. With FPAC, we get to define who we are through sharing to the world our art and culture.”
FPAC 27 culminates in grand fashion over three action-packed days, October 23, 24 and 25 from 7-10 PM on facebook.com/filamartsLA, YouTube and filamartsla.org. Follow @filamartsla on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates. Official Hashtag #FPAC2020.
About FilAm Arts:
FilAm Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that advocates for FilAm and Pilipino culture by connecting people through facilitating arts and culture programming so that our cultural identity may be properly represented, embraced, preserved for future generations.
