It was a perfect summer day for a parade. Perfect for the annual Summer Pinoy Fiesta.

The parade route for the Vancouver summer’s Pinoy Fiesta was a good one and reminiscent of the many parades that I remembered growing up in the Philippines, long before the Internet and social media were part of everyday life. I remembered that at the sound of the music and the announcements from the public speakers on top of the jeepney, neighbours quickly put down what they were doing inside their homes, opened their gates and watched the parade until it disappeared down their street. The same was true for this summer’s Pinoy Fiesta in Vancouver which meandered along Fraser St in the east side of Vancouver until it reached the Windsor Memorial South Park. The parade route is that particular area where one can find Pinoy stores, remittance and balikbayan boxes outlets, restaurants, a dance studio and health clinic can be found.

Adults and children waited on the sidelines, many armed with their cell phone cameras, and shouts of “Ilagay mo sa Facebook, ha? “ (Post it on FaceBook, ok?) could be heard about the din. The crowd was there as well at the park entrance and on the grounds where the tents were set up and the smell of grilled barbecue wafted throughout the park. There were more than 80 participants from community groups, church organizations, businesses, and media groups to political parties and also a lot of non-Filipinos who went from tent to tent, trying food samples, getting freebies and joining the  free raffles.

 Nakatawag pansin ang float ng Migrante BC. (The Migrante BC float  was an attention-getter.) With the Kathara dancing and drumming in front of the float, people turned their heads and saw these moving heralders of the Migrante float. The Migrante float, with the traditional fiesta buntings, was stunning with the art work it carried. Draped on both sides of the truck were the art panels made at the Migrante-organized art camp which drew participants from the children, youth as well as the caregivers.

On the roof of the pick up truck was the brightly coloured symbol of Maranao art, the sarimanokwith the fish on its talons, surrounded by peace symbols. On the back of the truck, facing the contingent and the crowd as the float went past, was the giant panel with the logo of Migrante BC and the slogan of “Migrant Rights are Human Rights.” Below this was another panel with the newest logo designed by Bert Monterona for  the  FAN (Filipino Action Network) for TFW Rights, the alliance to promote and protest  Pinoy temporary foreign workers, initiated by Migrante BC. Migrante BC thanks Pinoy muralist and art educator Bert Monterona for his work in designing and creating  the look of the float which included adding the art camp panels on both sides of the Migrante BC float.

With the large influx of temporary foreign workers, largely from the Philippines, into Canada, particularly in British Columbia, it was timely that the float of Migrante BC highlight migrant workers. As a migrant-driven, migrant-led mass organization, Migrante BC had in its parade contingent members from the trade unions, schools, members in domestic work and temporary work, theatre and cultural workers, entrepreneurs, public and health sector, and of course, migrant families, with babies in their strollers.

Nakatawag pansin rin ang higanteng banner na hawak hawak ng halos sampung katao. (The huge banner held up by at least ten people was an attention-getter.) The giant multi-coloured banner especially made for the Pinoy Fiesta could have easily occupied the width of Fraser St. It was adorned with a boat on the water and was inscribed with the names of the different organizations that marched behind the Migrante BC float: Kathara, Tulayan, Remyx, Monsoon and the CPSHR (Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights). Collaboratively worked on, the banner was inclusive and symbolized the network and collaboration that are built, nurtured and strengthened. Erwin Apilado of the PANCIT art collective (acronym for Pilipino Artists Network for Community Integrative Training)  described the Migrante contingent as “the bravest and toughest civilian warrior of Migrante BC.” And for the first time, Migrante BC had pedal pushers Janice Valdez and Rohit Chokhani proudly accompanied the Migrante float on their bikes.

Each of the parade participants was acknowledged by the organizers from a huge stage set up at the park. A program of Pinoy celebrities, dancers, and singers entertained the crowd up to the early evening.

The August parade, which is in its fourth year, was joined by organizations, community groups, and businesses, in the spirit of celebration, collaboration and networking.  Migrante BC has been in the annual parade since it started in 2009.  The Mayor of Vancouver, Greg Robertson, has  declared  the day of the celebration as "Filipino Day" in Vancouver, in acknowledgement of the presence and contributions of the  Filipinos who constitute the third largest immigrant community in Vancouver.

 It was a perfect summer day. Mainit. Parang nasa Pilipinas ka. Parang may tutoong pista. (Hot. It felt like you were back in the Philippines. Like there was a real fiesta!) Migrante BC acknowledges and thanks the organizers of this parade that certainly makes every Pinoy proud.###
                                                                     
 

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine