Historic Filipinotown Day- An Assessment

By Arturo P. Garcia

Los Angeles— The Historic Filipinotown Festival Committee held an assessment last August 18, 2008 at SIPA Social Hall and positively assessed the Aug 2. Historic Filipinotown Festival.

Festival organizers, volunteers, vendors and participants came into a conclusion after the honest to goodness assessment that the festival was a success. It was attended by more than 5,000 people. It was confirmed by giving a raffle bracelet to each person who attended the festival. This includes the more than 800 runners that participated in the early morning 5K run/walk,

The festival organizers also noted the participation of Filipino-Americans from out of town who were interested to see Ms. Nora Aunor-the festival guest. The vendors were also satisfied because their business made good during the whole day affair.

Confirmed by the organizers as the e largest crowd ever to attend the Historic Filipinotown Festival in its 6th year, more than 600 to 700 people mostly from the middle aged and senior citizens group patiently waited for the Filipino aging star-Nora Aunor who arrived late. La Aunor arrived at around 8:30 PM and swooned the crowd with Filipino songs.

The crown was glued to their seats as early as mid afternoon. Were regaled by Latin dancing groups, music bands and singers. The organizers also acknowledged that the space was smaller and should be expanded with groups promising to participate next time.

The HFT organizers also honored Alvaro Venegas for handling the HFT media and publicity outreach on his last year with the festival. Venegas, a Venezuelan in his valedictory wished that Filipinos and Latinos bond more for the sucess of the grassroots festival.

The festival organizers also thanked many volunteers who maintained orders, cleaned up and made the festival trash-free and clean during the whole day affair. The Filipino-Americans commemorate the HFT Day every August 2nd.

The day the Los Angeles City designated the district as Historic Filipinotown in August 2, 2002 after 15 years of long, historic and controversial advocacy.

***************