Filipino Pride Day

Gonna be honest… really disappointed here. Just seemed like an event for businesses to go and advertise– banks, Western Union, etc. There were some cultural things, but I didn’t see much. Maybe I just missed it, but I didn’t see any of the things promised– dancers, martial artists. I saw a bunch of Americanized type Filipino things. Like a comedian who happened to be Filipino and things like that. No ethnic dress, no traditional games/​dances, no anything but overpriced food. I mean, borderline wicked overpriced. Plates were like $ 10 – 20, Halo-​Halo was like $ 5 for one cup! The bulgogi was like $ 2 per stick. Absolutely ridiculous. My kids had more fun with the fountain than anything this event had to offer.
I’ll probably skip it next year unless they give out a schedule or something of when dancers, martial artists or things like that will be there and happening.

Florida is not known for Filipinos, but thanks to the military, 20% of Floridian Filipinos live in Jacksonville. (In fact, back in 96, half of the graduating class of my high school were all Filipinos!)
Three years ago, the local pinoys and pinays finally got together and decided to start a festival. It’s your basic cultural festival. Picture the World of Nations, but just featuring one nation. But Filipino Pride Day is FREE to attend.
You got the dancers, the singers, the artwork, the vendors selling food and beer and cold treats to tone down the heat. This yearly festival is held at the Landing and is mostly outside, although a few booths and exhibits are inside the building.
Last year, I watched local talent Asia Cruise perform. I hear they are going to have some guests from the Filipino Channel this year. (By the way the festival is October 1 this year if you want to check it out!)
I think it’s been a long time coming. Tampa has already surpassed Jacksonville in recognition with their Philippine Performing Arts Company folk dance troupe and their Bayanihan Arts and Events Center.
I hear there were plans for a local Filipino community center, but construction has been halted. At least there are the yearly festival and the many Filipino restaurants around town to enjoy for now.