Picture this perfect recipe for a Filipino festival: the sun’s shining, there are people dancing, as the sound of Filipino rap-slash-cha-cha music echoes throughout the square in Memorial Park in Oshawa, Ontario for the Durham Filipino Festival.
The scent of barbecued pork and chicken wafts through the air.
Line-ups form as hungry attendees seek out the tastiest lunch choices of lechon, barbecue, sisig or pansit.
Traditional taho and mango drinks, as well as egg pies, yema and various kakanins are available for purchase from vendors scattered all over the park.
There’s a stall with lato-lato and traditional terno blouses, while another booth—AKIS Bayong—sells handmade, woven bags.
With just the right mix of food and clothing vendors, dancing, and most of all, singing, Durham Filfest is a pinoy-tastic party that’s all about celebrating the Filipino culture.
So, what’s the scoop? The Durham Filipino Fest is the place to be when you’re craving a taste of the Philippines right here in Canada.
It’s a yearly celebration that’s got the whole community buzzing with excitement.
Now, let’s talk food, ’cause that’s where the magic happens.
You can’t walk ten steps without running into a plate of lumpia, crispy and ready to dip in some mouthwatering sawsawan (dipping sauce).
And the lechon? It’s so tender on the inside, crispy on the outside.
But the yumminess doesn’t stop there. Halo-halo, the king of Filipino desserts, is waiting to cool you down with its mix of sweet, fruity, and icy goodness.
And don’t even get us started on the yema and egg pies—it’s a fiesta for your taste buds.
But it’s not just about eating your heart out.
The Durham Filipino Fest has hired just the right kind of entertainment.
Filipinos love to dance, so there was group dancing in the square, with some attendees showing off their traditional, colourful Maria Clara dresses.
Contests, dance games (like the newspaper dance), and raffles were up for grabs at the event, adding an element of surprise during the event.
With performances by Chyrell and Rodney Ronquillo, Rhett Dela Cruz, the A+ Dance Team, JDL Cultural Team, Jarius Monzon, and Thea Asedillo—the recent Grand Champion of CNE’s The Rising Star 2023 competition (Youth Division)—the festival is definitely a must-see.
The Durham Filipino Fest is like a piece of the Philippines dropped right in Oshawa.
It’s an awesome chance to eat, dance, learn, and have a blast with the Pinoy community.
