Burnaby – Premier David Eby is confirmed to attend one of the largest Filipino celebrations held in recent
years and the Filipino-Canadian community is excited to welcome him.
The Pinoy Festival: Panahon na para Magsaya (Come join the fun) will be held this Saturday June 24th at
Burnaby’s Civic Square (6100 Willingdon Avenue) and a broad cross section of Filipino community
groups are set to welcome Premier Eby.
“We’re honoured that he will have time to join our event and we’re looking forward to showing him the
best of Filipino culture and unity. Traditions and cultural performances from across the archipelago will
be showcased and highlights include our Community Parade or Parada ng Bayan in the morning to a
Santa Cruzan (cultural parade) in the afternoon and dynamic local Filipino OPM (original Pilipino music)
bands in the evening. And of course there will be lots of your favourite Filipino Food and food trucks on
site,” says Iane Penala, Pinoy Festival Co-Chair.
The Pinoy Festival is organized by the Burnaby Filipino Cultural Society, the Pinoy Festival Alliance and
the Mabuhay House Society. It is free admission and will be held from 10am to 7pm and there will be
lots for everyone to see and do.
For her part, Mabuhay House Society Chair Sammie Jo Rumbaua says she is looking forward to the great
show of unity that will be on display this Saturday around both pride in culture and the call for a Filipino
cultural centre.
“I know that decades ago, our elders began the hard work of dreaming and rallying our community
around the development of a cultural centre. Mabuhay House Society is built on their shoulders and
we’re proud to lead the Filipino community’s effort for a cultural centre,” says Rumbaua, whose
organization received a $250,000 grant from the Province of BC for capacity building.
“This is the largest single investment into the Filipino community and we welcome the trust and
confidence by Premier Eby and his government in our organization and our community. We know what
lies before us is a huge undertaking and we’re committed to ensuring that everyone plays a meaningful
role in this effort because our journey is as important as our destination,” added Rumbaua.
According to Burnaby City Councillor Maita Santiago, the upcoming festival is a milestone event for the
City of Burnaby because of the broad number of Filipino organizations and individuals slated to take
part.
“This event is possible because of everyone’s support. From taking part in performances to volunteering
and inviting their members and friends to come – I’m so pleased to see how everyone is working
together to make it happen. Burnaby takes pride in how super diverse we are as a city so it’s important
that we have opportunities like this for people to come together,” said Santiago, who is also the first
Filipino elected to a local council in Metro Vancouver.
What: Pinoy Festival: Panahon na para Magsaya (Come join the Fun)!
When: Sat June 24, 10am to 7pm
Where: Burnaby Civic Square, 6100 Willingdon, Burnaby
Who: Filipino Community leaders and organizations; Premier David Eby and MLAs (2:45pm); Burnaby
Mayor Mike Hurley and Councillors (12:15pm)
(For more info, please contact Winjie at 778-861-4026)
