One of the most unsung communities in American society will be celebrated in grand fashion this weekend in Fresno.
Filipino-Americans have made impacts in U.S. history for centuries, but their stories are not nearly as commonly known or recognized in the U.S. as other Asian cultures.
The inaugural “Fil Fiesta 559” looks to change that.
Fil Fiesta 559 is a festival that highlights Filipino culture and the contributions made by Filipino-Americans in California and beyond. The event will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fresno City College, and admission is free.
There will be live music, cultural dancing, popular Filipino foods, and much more, including a lineup of educational workshops to help celebrate a heritage rooted all the way to the southeast Asian islands of the Philippines.
Headlining the festival is the popular a capella group Filharmonic.
“There are Filipino festivals around the country like in New York and Los Angeles, and they’re huge,” event organizer Christine Rose said. “The fact that Central California has played a huge role in Filipino-American history, it made sense to hold a Fil fest in Fresno.