The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, Hawaii participated in the 19th Honolulu Festival (HF) from 1-3 March 2013 at various locations in Honolulu and Waikiki.
The HF, Honolulu’s premier annual cultural festival, through its longstanding theme, “Pacific Harmony,” reflects the Honolulu Festival Foundation’s (HFF) vision to share the many cultures of the Pacific region with the people of Hawaii and those visiting from all over the world, through an impressive showcase of arts, culture and entertainment.
For this year’s Festival, the HFF adopted the sub-theme "Transforming the world: Connect! Discover! Let each experience fascinate you!", which aim to transform the Festival into a bigger and more festive event in preparation for the milestone celebration of its 20th Honolulu Festival on 7-9 March 2014.
Vice Consul Joyleen E. Santos, Lita Pascual and Emily Reyes of Honolulu PCG
man the Philippine booth during the two-day craft fair. Joining them is Ms. Eun
Joo Bae, Director for Sales of Manila Hotel.
The Consulate participated in the craft fair at the Hawaii Convention Center on 2-3 March 2013. The Philippine booth featured Philippine national attire such as the Barong Tagalog and Igorot dresses, ikat textiles, other native souvenir items, and banners and flyers on the DOT’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” tourism campaign. Flyers on the 8th Ambassadors Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) and other consular forms were also distributed to interested parties
The Consulate also attended the Governor’s Luncheon Reception at Washington Place on 1 March. Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie thanked the 19th HF organizers for the success of the past Festivals in perpetuating the strong cultural and ethnic ties between the peoples of Asia-Pacific and Hawaii. He also conveyed that he looks forward to a bigger and more colorful 20th Honolulu Festival next year.
In the evening, Vice Consul Joyleen E. Santos and Cultural Officer Sheila T. Tarrosa attended the Friendship Gala which featured cultural demonstrations and stage performances from participating countries in the Pacific Rim region and Hawaii, and cuisines of some of Hawaii’s finest chefs and restaurants.
The 19th Honolulu Festival culminated with the Grand Parade along Kalakaua and Waikiki Avenues on 3 March 2013. The Philippines was represented by BIBAK Hawaii and Ms. Philippines-Hawaii.
BIBAK Hawaii, a Filipino organization composed of immigrants from the Cordillera region participate in the Grand Parade along Kalakaua and Waikiki Avenues.[PHOTO from 19th Honolulu Festival’s Facebook Page]
The Honolulu Festival is one of Honolulu’s largest and most anticipated events, with more than 5,000 participants and visitors from Japan and the Asia-Pacific countries coming to Honolulu specifically to take part in the Festival, giving a boost to Hawaii’s tourism industry by generating more than US$10 million in visitor spending and nearly US$1 in tax revenues. It also presents a unique opportunity for the people in Hawaii and other participating countries to fully appreciate Philippine culture and heritage. (END).
