There Will Be Ube, and More Scenes From the Festival of Philippine Art

The 26th annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC) took place on Saturday in Echo Park, and Maria and I brought along the Blogger Kid (the other one was at a party) to take in the sights, sounds... and of course, food.

First launched in 1992 as part of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department’s Festivals Program, the FPAC continues to grow; this year's theme was Salin-Lahi, or "Bridging Generations," and featured headliners including Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas. The event is organized by the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture(FilAm ARTS).

Various pavilions showcased wellness, culinary, seniors, literary and youth programs. We, of course, headed straight for the food. Some pics from this year's event:

Memorial Day Video: Clark Air Base Cemetery

After the U.S. military left the Philippines in 1991, it was up to volunteers to look after the cemeteries left behind. Thousands of U.S. and Filipino soldiers who died in WWII combat are buried in the cemetery that was once a part of Clark Air Base; as the video notes above, it's now veterans' groups that must raise the funds to maintain the grounds.

A Memorial Day shout-out to the folks who maintain U.S. cemeteries in far-away lands like the Philippines.

Why Manny Pacquiao's Win Makes Me Thirsty for a San Miguel

I'm guessing the San Miguel was flowing last night in Vegas after Manny Pacquiao dominated in his fight vs. Miguel Cotto. (I'm partial to San Mig Light -- available at Trader Joe's -- myself.) Above, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach (along side one-time Pacquiao opponent, Erik Morales) promote the brew.

Retro Friday: Hollywood Village People

Back one summer when my family was living in the Philippines, one of the Manila TV stations would play music videos every morning before signing on. Thing is, they were the same videos every single day. If I remember, the videos included "Suddenly," from Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richards, and "In the Navy" from the Village People. I still remember my sister and I marching around the house to this video when we were kids... hey, at the time, we really did assume it was just a song about the joys of the Navy.

I bring up the Village People because they're among this year's Hollywood Walk of Fame recipients. Also receiving stars: Ben Kingsley, Hugh Jackman, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Cameron Diaz, Robert owney Jr., Tim Burton, Leslie Caron, Charles Durning, Ralph Fiennes, William Petersen, Kyra Sedgwick, John Stamos, Mark Burnett, Chuck Lorre, Kenny "Baby Face" Edmonds, Dave Koz, The Miracles, Doug Morris, Rush, Shakira, Tinkerbell (!), KFI's Bill Handel and Harry Shearer, who's receiving his star for his KCRW show, not "The Simpsons" or "Spinal Tap." also provides voices for characters on "The Simpsons."

Adobo in San Pedro

Maria, Evan and I may have found a new favorite Los Angeles festival... but we may have also experienced its final hurrah.

The 16th Annual Festival of Phillipine Arts & Culture (FilAmArts.org) took place this weekend in San Pedro (at the Pt. Fermin Park) -- and boasted everything we look for in a festival.

Cheap, delicious food? Check. Cool, interesting booths (including several selling books)? Yup. Cooking demonstrations? Absolutely. Beautiful setting, complete with ocean breeze keeping things cool? Yes. Plenty for Blogger Toddler to do, including a playground? Indeed.

And... most importantly: Free Spam samples? You got it!

One of the largest Filipino-American celebrations in Southern California, the festival is well-organized and well-attended. But it also may be in trouble.

Seems the fees to keep the festival going in the city park have become astronomical -- or so mentioned KABC's Denise Dador, who hosted part of Saturday's festivities.

But let's hope it keeps going. Despite some shortcomings -- the food selection included just two booths devoted to Filipino food (and one of those was just kinda Filipino food -- what gives? It's a Filipino festival, after all!) -- it's nicely set up inside the park to take advantage of the park's amenities, like the playground that kept plenty of kids (including Blogger Toddler) busy.

Best food bet was the vendor connected to the culinary tent, which offered huge chicken adobo rice bowls and caldereta rice bowls for just $4 (among other things), as well as lumpia for $2 and calamansi juice for $2.50. Yes, we tried it all, and yes, it was good. Actually, the cheap and tasty food is probably the main reason we now consider it our fave fest.

A band shell was used for the "generations" stage, in which younger singers and bands performed. And just on the other side of the fence was the Pt. Fermin cliffs -- and the beautiful Pt. Fermin lighthouse. (The equally beautiful Korean Friendship Bell is closeby as well.)

Hell, it was so well-organized that parking was free at a near-by lot, with shuttles regularly dropping people back and forth.

Some shots:


Ladies and gentlemen... Free Spam!


Kids on parade


Food at the Culinary Arts stage.


Food eating competish -- Whoever downed the shot of vinegar first won.


Dancers.


Pt. Fermin Lighthouse

Mike, 26 Years Ago Today

Here's how I celebrated my birthday at age 8... clearly, not much has changed. (That's our house on Masbate St. at Clark Air Base, Philippines. It's now part of a golf resort.)

Break Me Off a Piece of That Obscure Kit-Kat Bar

Thanks to Santos, who's in town from Guam and her many travels. Santos passed along a treasure chest of Kit-Kat and Mentos flavors from overseas (esp. Japan) that are impossible to find here in the States.

Above, check it out: Bitter Chocolate, Strawberry, Cappuccino, Azuki Bean, Raspberry, Chestnut, Mild Bitter & Orange, and Pumpkin flavored Kit-Kats!



Mentos flavors from the Philippines (which you may be able to find at spots such as Arko Foods or Seafood City): Dalandan Fresh and Juicy Ponkan.



More Mentos: Fuji Apple and Grape.

Another Reason to Visit Eagle Rock: Fast Food Halo-Halo

When we visited the Philippines in 2004, I really took to the whole notion of merienda. A mid-afternoon snack (or, I suppose if you're more hungry, a meal), the merienda bridges the gap between lunch and dinner, and can consist of just about anything.

The Scent of Green Bananas' Santos shared her own love of merienda in a post last October:

Much like siesta is considered an integral part of Spanish culture, merienda--a mid-day snack--is integral to filipino culture.

How I heart a land where food is so important that 3 meals are not enough. Traditionally, merienda is taken as a mid-afternoon repast, but a mid-morning snack is equally as acceptable. Merienda can be anything from a small item to a full-fledged meal; there is nothing unacceptable as a merienda item, although some foods are traditionally considered so, like freshly baked bibingka or a hot pandesal bun--literally "bread of salt," (but really, much, much more than that)--straight from a pugon, a wood-fired clay oven, along with a cup of hot coffee or tsokolate.

Also, to some people, if there isn't a pile of steamed rice involved, then it's just not a meal, it's merienda. On this last jaunt, i definitely had my share of merienda, which ranged from the traditional to the not-quite-so, the snack-sized to um, a full fourth meal. Shhhh.

Then there's halo-halo, the ice cream/shave ice/bean dessert that is a guilty merienda pleasure.

Just right around the corner at the Eagle Rock Plaza, you'll sometimes catch me or Maria with Blogger Toddler on a random afternoon, digging into a bowl of halo-halo (pic above) from either fast food outposts Jollibee or Chowking. Jollibee's halo-halo is slightly cheaper, but both contain the essential ube ice cream and leche flan. It may be a little too cold outside right now to indulge in the icy joy halo-halo (trust me, it's never too cold for us), but just wait until summer.