Welcome to Seattle Center
Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival will take place on June 3: 11am-6pm & June 4: 12pm-6pm at the Armory Food & Event Hall and Mural Amphitheatre. The festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series. It is free and open to the public.
Seattle Center Festál is a year-round series of 24 free cultural festivals, produced in partnership with community organizations. In 2022, Festál celebrated 25 years of stories and traditions, ushering in a new era of hybrid programming. Learn more about Festál and subscribe to the newsletter for updates.
The festival commemorates the anniversary of Philippine Independence with the word 'Pagdiriwang' meaning 'festival'. It offers a glimpse of Filipino heritage and culture through music, dance, arts, history, literature, and crafts.
ARMORY STAGE
| TIME | PERFORMANCE |
| 11:00am-12:00pm | Grand Opening Ceremony
|
| 12:00pm-12:30pm | Rigor Coloma & Teza Mendoza Teza Mendoza has been a volunteer of the Pagdiriwang for more than a decade. She started as assistant talent coordinator to Chito Refuerzo for Musika at Iba and later took on the responsibility. With her link to the band network, Teza invited Filipino American performers from all over the Puget Sound area and neighboring states, scouring events and places and showcased them for the live Musika at Iba Pa segment of the Pagdiriwang. For the past two years when Pagdiriwang went virtual, Teza developed and put together the videos to be able to feature and share talents of up and coming FilAM performers in the Puget Sound. Teza is also a performer. She is a solo singer of different genres, an actress (TV, film and stage), a trained dancer and choreographer, a compugraphics designer, a writer and an amateur film maker. As she always says, performing keeps her grounded. The instilled discipline from all her trainings as a performer enables her to also do her job as company manager/administrator. Always a stickler for professionalism, she also inculcates this in all the performers she features. She espouses the triangle for success as a performer: DEDICATION, DISCIPLINE AND PROFESSIONALISM. |
| 12:30pm-1:00pm | Rural Dances by SAYAW of FASA at UW |
| 1:00pm-1:30pm | Barriotiques The vocal harmony from the Barriotiques will once again grace the Pagdiriwang, and this time around, the blended voices will be more reminiscent of the times after the rice harvest, when the barrio’s young and the restless sneak in the time to serenade their “dalagitas”… Together for some years now, lately the Barriotiques have been digging into the antique chest of music from the golden era of the harana and the kundiman. These songs are hardly sung nowadays and they’ve taken it on. Aside from the lilting, romantic music derived from a more recent past in the form of American fusion, the group has expanded their repertoire to represent the deeper realms of true Filipino music’s past. The guys who make up the group are no strangers in the local Pinoy music scene: Rex de Asis, Julius Gamponia, Abe Legaspi and Roger Rigor have been doing gigs around town. They all share the love for songs done in harmony, capturing the style mostly heard in barrios when the night brightens up with a full moon. Hopeless romantics? Yeah, they probably are, but the Barriotiques do come across with the most memorable English or Tagalog songs of the heart, of an era, of a lifetime… Take time and enjoy their brand of songs at the Pagdiriwang… without realizing it, you might find yourself reminiscing and being flown back in Time! |
| 1:30pm-2:00pm | FCS Kalahi Dance Company |
| 2:00pm-2:30pm | Philippine Regional Dances of the Countryside |
| 2:30pm-3:00pm | Maricres Castro Valdez |
| 3:00pm-3:30pm | BIBAK Pacific Northwest BIBAK of the Pacific Northwest is a cultural group dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich culture of the Cordillera tribes. BIBAK is an acronym for the five provinces: Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc (Mountain Province), Apayao, and Kalinga. BIBAK strives to pass down the traditions, like songs and dances, to younger generations, as well as to teach others about the unique cultures in the region. BIBAK of the Pacific Northwest was founded in 1992 and has since grown and expanded, adding people to the BIBAK family throughout the years. There are dozens of other BIBAK organizations throughout the United States and internationally, all with the goal of celebrating and sharing the rich culture of the Cordillera tribes. |
| 3:30pm-6:00pm | DIWA Films Showcase The Diwa Filipino Film Festival is a community film festival in Seattle that celebrates the Filipino Spirit wherever it resides by exhibiting independent films from the Philippine islands and beyond. Since its inaugural screening in 2014, the festival has featured new works from all over the world, weaving them together into interesting and thought-provoking programs. This year, Diwa is very excited to be in person (and beyond!) during the Pagdiriwang Festival on June 3 & 4, 2023, with a new location within the Seattle Center Armory. We are thrilled to offer an in-person filmmaking workshop this year, in addition to the film showcase. After the Pagdiriwang festival, Diwa will continue online and on-demand through the Vimeo platform from June 5 to 19, 2023, with intimate filmmaker conversations as well. The showcase is spearheaded by Adrian Alarilla, a writer, researcher, and PhD candidate originally from Quezon City currently pursuing his Graduate Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Joining him is Joann Natalia Aquino, the Programming Manager, and Joni Gutierrez, the Marketing Manager. While there is no admission fee, we do request audience members register beforehand for access to the online video platform. We will then email you the access details at the start of the virtual festival. Adrian Alarilla is a writer, filmmaker, and a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa studying Filipino migration focusing on kinship networks and genealogies of movement in both U.S. empire and Filipino nation. Born and raised in the Philippines, he is currently based in Seattle. He also helps organize the Southeast Asia x Seattle Film Festival and the annual Diwa Filipino Film Festival at the Seattle Center. His films parallel his research interests, as he uses the personal documentary genre to reflect on and process the contemporary experience of Filipino migration. He has shown his works, including his first full-length documentary film project, “Kung Saan Man Tayo (Wherever We May Be),” all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Cambodia, Bangladesh, South Korea, and the Philippines. Joann Natalia Aquino is a writer, a publicist, an arts marketer, and a traveling freelance journalist covering lifestyle including the arts, food, travel and wellness. She has over 25 years experience in the communications field from writing and editing, to public relations, marketing and community engagement. She is a lifelong student of life, traditional healing practices, plant medicine, indigenous foodways and pre-colonial Philippine traditions. Committed to mind-body-spirit holistic health, Joann is trained as an herbalist, a birth and postpartum doula and in various healing modalities. Jose Gutierrez III is a filmmaker, photographer, multimedia designer, researcher, and educator. With a doctoral degree in film studies and communication, Joni is passionate about advocating for minority representation in cinema and promoting inclusivity in society. He aims to make a positive impact through educational programs, including the web series, "Film 101," available on various social media platforms. |
ARMORY COURT (ALL-DAY)
Violeta Noriega has been the curator and creative force behind the Philippine culinary special events and exhibits at the annual Pagdiriwang Festival at the Seattle Center and in various North American events over the years. She shares, elevates and enhances the Philippine food art and presentation with her innovative and inspiring ideas. Filipino arts and handcrafted items are featured in her creations of simple, elaborate and unique table settings. Violeta has done workshops, demonstrations, displays, exhibits and videos on the many aspects of the Philippine Table Arts.
Noriega is the author of the popular cookbook Philippine Recipes Made Easy which is on its 10th printing and has garnered many positive reviews on amazon.com and from users. She serves the educational community as a resource for Philippine books, bilingual children’s books and materials. Violeta holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.
Fred and Dorothy Cordova have been involved in Filipino American activism since the 1950s. They began promoting Filipino American identity at a young age with student publications and organizations at Seattle University, where they attended college. In 1957, they formed and directed the Filipino Youth Activities (FYA), with activities ranging from soccer to folk dancing and parade marching. The FYA became an important force for organizing demonstrations in the 1960s and 1970s.
Dorothy Laigo Cordova also served as Director for the Demonstration Project for Asian Americans (DPAA), which conducted a wide variety of studies on the problems Asian Americans faced in the 1970s. Through the DPAA, she collected research and oral histories. After the DPAA closed in the early 1980s, the Cordovas moved their work to a new organization that they created called the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), where Dorothy is Founder and Executive Director. Fred Cordova, the author of Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans, served as Founding President Emeritus, Trustee, and Archivist of FANHS.
FANHS now has more than 40 chapters around the United States. In Seattle, it houses the National Pinoy Archives, which is one of the largest collections on Filipino American history anywhere. It includes thousands of materials on individuals and organizations throughout the United States. The FANHS National Museum is located in Fred Cordova’s hometown of Stockton, California.
Cited and edited from Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Program
Jaime ‘Jimmy’ Javier is a Business Management (BSBM) degree holder from the Ateneo de Manila University and finished his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines Law School as a working student.
Prior to his admission to the Philippine Bar, he was a radio broadcaster for RJFM 100.3 aka ‘Sneakers’. Jimmy also acted in TV and movies. His role as ‘Vince’ in the film ‘Batch ‘81’ earned him nominations for Best Supporting Actor from the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) and the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Urian Awards).
He was a tenured sportscaster for the PBA, PBL and the UAAP in his spare time.
In government service at the national level, he worked as Chief of Staff in both the Philippine Senate & Congress. Later at the municipal level, he worked with the Office of the Mayor in Javier, Leyte, assisting with government funding for the town’s infrastructure projects. Before his retirement, he was a consultant for a multinational construction firm.
He learned to take snapshots started with unexposed Eastman short ends left over from ‘Batch ‘81’ movie film reels. The short ends from the film’s cinematographer were later spooled and loaded on a borrowed Nikon film camera. When modern gear evolved from film to digital, Jimmy rekindled his interest in photography. Working in Leyte allowed for an intimate window into the daily lives of the town’s residents.
‘Snapshots .. Life in Rural Philippines’ is a collection of human interest images which were taken during his weekly visits to his hometown from 2011 to 2015.
ARMORY BALCONY (ALL-DAY)
ARMORY CONFERENCE ROOM 301 (ALL-DAY)
Adrian Alarilla is a writer, filmmaker, and a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa studying Filipino migration focusing on kinship networks and genealogies of movement in both U.S. empire and Filipino nation. Born and raised in the Philippines, he is currently based in Seattle. He also helps organize the Southeast Asia x Seattle Film Festival and the annual Diwa Filipino Film Festival at the Seattle Center. His films parallel his research interests, as he uses the personal documentary genre to reflect on and process the contemporary experience of Filipino migration. He has shown his works, including his first full-length documentary film project, “Kung Saan Man Tayo (Wherever We May Be),” all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Cambodia, Bangladesh, South Korea, and the Philippines.
Joann Natalia Aquino is a writer, a publicist, an arts marketer, and a traveling freelance journalist covering lifestyle including the arts, food, travel and wellness. She has over 25 years experience in the communications field from writing and editing, to public relations, marketing and community engagement. She is a lifelong student of life, traditional healing practices, plant medicine, indigenous foodways and pre-colonial Philippine traditions. Committed to mind-body-spirit holistic health, Joann is trained as an herbalist, a birth and postpartum doula and in various healing modalities.
Jose Gutierrez III is a filmmaker, photographer, multimedia designer, researcher, and educator. With a doctoral degree in film studies and communication, Joni is passionate about advocating for minority representation in cinema and promoting inclusivity in society. He aims to make a positive impact through educational programs, including the web series, "Film 101," available on various social media platforms.
ARMORY LOBBY (ALL-DAY)
NOEL BOTE BAUTISTA was born in 1969 in Taal Batangas Philippines. At an early age Noel was a lover of art. He is especially drawn to painting fish and landscapes. He was consistent in joining and winning Art contests during his elementary school, high school and college years. Noel graduated from the Lyceum of the Philippine University with a BSBA degree in Marketing in 1993.
Noel continued to paint and became active in the Philippine art scene. Years passed and in 2003 Noel made the big decision to immigrate to the USA. His dream to have his first solo show in New York City was fulfilled in 2010. He also mounted his second solo show in 2013 at the Big Apple.
In 2017 Noel had his Third solo Exhibit at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma, Washington. This show featured undersea paintings.
Noel's major theme of Enigma Sculptures will be his ultimate life commitment as an artist. In November 2015, Noel formally opened the BOTE ART MUSEUM at his birthplace in TAAL. This is another life dream success the artist.
ARMORY LOFT 2 (ALL-DAY)
Leia Maminta Smith grew up in the Philippines. She moved to the US in pursuit of science and completed her PhD in Tumor Cell Biology from Northwestern University. She trained in molecular biology at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and at the National Cancer Institute, Maryland. She worked in academic and biotech organizations and is currently a scientific consultant. To explore her love of photography, she immersed herself in learning more about the history, techniques and business of photography. She is a co-Vice President of Seattle Photographic Society. She has earned multiple awards from the Northwest Council of Camera Clubs and Shoreline Arts Festival. She enjoys doing family portraits and travel photography.
Al is a graphic designer and multimedia artist based in Quezon City, Philippines. He got his BFA degree in Visual Communications at the University of the Philippines. For this exhibit, his large landscape photographs feature the grandiose natural beauty of the Philippines that inspires awe and amazement from travelers. Playing with exposure, contrast, color, and perspective, Alarilla's photographs demonstrate how one can weave with light, and in turn create thought-provoking images of the Philippines.
My name is Johnedel Matias. I am an Ibaloi Igorot-Filipino Canadian, a person of Indigenous decent from the northern mountains of the Philippines. My ancestry consists of my mom whom hails from Kabayan and my dad from Bocod, both mountain towns of the Ibalois in the province of Benguet. Throughout the years, I've gone on many adventures where I've documented my experiences. My background and personal inspiration coalesce with my vision of photojournalistic documentation. My influences and inspiration can be directly attributed to various mediums and people I look up to. I have found inspiration through photography from people from my community and heritage as well as others more well known. The outdoors, my personal experiences, as well as my own cultural background all inspire my vision and what I do with photography.
Artist Statement: The theme of “Weaving Together” is a phrase that is a living expression of us Igorots. Long has the practice of weaving been a staple of our people. The purpose of which has also been one of the connections we have had with the low lands for centuries in terms of trade. From Ifugao Nation, Sagada Weaving, Kabayan Weaving, Nardas, Easter Weaving and others whom I missed to mention, all these mentioned and more are those who keep the practice alive. From labourers to folks that still practice as part of their family tradition, our people have long continued this thread of our heritage alive. With a few of these pictures I wish to share a glimpse into our rich history, our rich heritage, and the living tradition that is in our fabric and blood. Thank you for allowing me to share these with you and thank you to the folks who made these pictures happen.
ARMORY LOFT 3 (ALL-DAY)
ARMORY LOFT 4
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 11:00am-12:00pm |
Tribal Tattoo Lecture Featuring Lane Wilcken, author and Mambabatek or cultural practitioner of the ancient arts of the Philippines, focusing on the spiritual practice of indigenous hand-tap tattoos. |
| 12:00pm-1:00pm |
Baybayin Ancient Writing System Lecture Featuring Kristian Kabuay, artist and instructor of the ancient Philippine script, Baybayin |
| 1:00pm-2:00pm |
Paghahabi ng mga Salita at Kultura Featuring Roberto Ascalon, Rose Booker, Nic Masangcay, and Jason Tanamor Tahat, with Robert Francis Flor, playwright. |
| 2:00pm-3:00pm |
Teatro Pilipino Reading of an Original Play, with Eloisa Cardona, actress and stage director, coordinator. |
| 3:00pm-6:00pm | Handtapped Tattoo Demonstration by Lane Wilcken Lane Wilcken is an author and cultural practitioner of the ancient arts of the Philippines with an emphasis on indigenous hand-tap tattoos as a spiritual practice. In this aspect he has been recognized by many in the Filipino-American community as a mambabatek or traditional tattoo practitioner. His practice of batok (tattoo) is done as a ritual and applied with tools that are handcrafted by him made of wood, horn, bone and thorns. Lane has a biracial background with his mother's lineage coming from primarily the Ilocos regions of the Philippines and his father's lineage coming from England and Scandinavia. Lane's maternal family was well acquainted in the traditional spiritual practices of the Philippines, his grandmother was a mangngilut (midwife and healer) and communicator with ancestral spirits. His great-great grandmother was a mangnganito or spirit medium. His grandfather understood the oral traditions and practices of the past. At an early age Lane was interested in mythology and other cultural practices which are the foundation of indigenous Filipino tattooing. Lane is the author of two books, Filipino Tattoos: Ancient to Modern and The Forgotten Children of Maui: Filipino Myths, Tattoos and Rituals of a Demigod. The first book, Filipino Tattoos: Ancient to Modern explains the history, spiritual importance, and mythology associated with the ancient tattooing in the Philippines. The often cryptic meanings of individual symbols, designs and placements are revealed. It also explores the cross cultural connections of the tattooing practices of the Polynesians and Micronesian peoples of the Pacific. The second book, The Forgotten Children of Maui: Filipino Myths, Tattoos and Rituals of a Demigod, focuses on the traditions of the demigod commonly known as LuMauig (i.e. Maui) in the Philippines now fragmented by nearly 500 years of colonialism. Although not readily recognized, these once important traditions still form a subtle undercurrent to many aspects of Filipino cultures. Lane has been researching the indigenous past of the Philippines and the Pacific Islands for more than two decades. His methodology incorporates oral tradition; written history, linguistics, personal experience and cross-cultural analysis with other Austronesian peoples of the Pacific to bring a fuller understanding of the origins and culture of the peoples of the Philippines. His interest in cultural tattooing was borne out of a desire to strengthen cultural pride among Filipinos and to reunite them and Pacific Islanders symbolically and spiritually with their estranged ancestors. Lane has given numerous presentations and lectures on tattooing, mythology and other cultural traditions at several universities and private forums. Lane resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife Rebekah and their children. |
MURAL AMPHITHEATRE (ALL-DAY)
ARMORY STAGE
| TIME | PERFORMANCE |
| 12:00pm-12:30pm | Noong Unang Panahon featuring Veronica Bella, solo with accompaniment on piano by Carmen "Mimi" Pelayre, music director |
| 12:30pm-1:00pm | Classic Songs featuring Rigor Coloma, singer and composer |
| 1:00pm-1:30pm |
Mindanao Island and Cordillera Dances, featuring Filipino-American Civic Employees of Seattle (FACES) Dance Group with Pilar Nable, dance director and choreographer, and the Filipinina Dance Company with Roger del Rosario, choreographer. Filipino-American Civic Employees of Seattle (FACES) is an association of Filipino-American Civic Employees of Seattle, their friends and supporters. We are an inclusive organization that fosters understanding and collaboration among people of all backgrounds and experiences and give voice and visibility to issues, and helps those in need. |
| 1:30pm-2:00pm | Bangsamoro: Its Dances and Music, performed by Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State (FPAWS), with Juliet Cheatle, choreographer. The Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State (FPAWS) is a cultural group that nurtures awareness and appreciation of various Filipino cultures and traditions in the community, sustained by committed and professional cultural workers. Founded in 1993 under the name, Children of Fil-Am Dance Ensemble and later changed its name to The Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State or FPAWS in September 2001. Under the direction of dancer / choreographer Juliet Omli-Cawas Cheatle, the 25 and more members present a number of performances, lectures, and workshops each year in Washington State, other states, and in Canada. One of its goals is to collect, preserve, perform, and express in art forms the way of life of the Filipino people. FPAWS’ repertoire ranges from traditional dances to contemporary dances using music that are composed and recorded by local musicians here and in the Philippines. The FPAWS shall showcase the various dances, costumes, music and songs of the Philippines’ indigenous communities through authentic and contemporary performances and cultural learning workshops in order to preserve and further strengthen the pride of the Filipino American community. FPAWS will strive to present Filipino folk dance in its traditional form and to educate Fil-Am’s younger generation in an era where authentic steps and movements are modernized and are forgotten. FPAWS is also designed to give its members the opportunity to express themselves artistically and explore their passion for dance as a visual form. |
| 2:00pm-2:30pm | How to Wear the Malong, demonstrated by Marlene Ignacio, with Rufino S. Ignacio, art and culture adviser. |
| 2:30pm-3:00pm | Filipino Traditional Songs featuring the Fil-Am Society Choir, directed by Carmen “Mimi” Pelayre. In 1978, Father Howard Lavelle, Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, asked Capt. Lescum and wife, Ciony De La Cruz, parish members, to help organize a Filipino celebration in the parish due to the increase of Filipino families in the parish. A meeting among Filipinos in the Magnolia community was called and the Filipino-American Society in Magnolia was created. Flores de Mayo, a Filipino celebration in the month of May, to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, was chosen to be introduced in the parish. In 1979, Anselmo Pelayre, composer and arranger, who just migrated to the U. S., saw a need to organize a choir to sing at the celebration. Anselmo and daughter Carmen, formed a choir known as ‘The Fil-Am Society Choir in Magnolia’. Carmen became the director and Anselmo, the accompanist. The songs were composed and arranged by Anselmo. The original choir members were all members of the parish. After a few celebrations, Filipinos in other parishes who love to sing expressed the desire to join. The current Filipino American Choir draws its diverse members from Bellevue, Bothell, Edmonds, Federal Way, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park , Mountlake Terrace, Seattle, Shoreline and Vashon Island. The choir sings at cultural and church celebrations. Pagdiriwang (Philippine Independence celebration), Simbang Gabi, Flores de Mayo, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Santo Nino, San Pedro Calungsod, Filipino Community of Seattle Annual Christmas Concert, fund raising and weddings are some of occasions they perform at. |
| 3:00pm-3:30pm | Tess Guerzon and her songs |
| 3:30pm-4:00pm | Contemporary Songs featuring Celeste Schleiffers Celeste Schleiffers, better known as Celeste to Washington live show aficionados, is one of Seattle’s most sought after singers. Celeste has been singing since she was a little girl in Grade 4 back in the Philippines and competed in various amateur singing contests. Moving to the US, singing took a back seat. Wife and mother became her priority. Some would be surprised to know that she actually has a full time day job not as a singer. She is a Seafood Manager at Safeway where she has worked for 13 years with a very good employment record. As they say, once a performer will always be a performer. After a few years of hibernation, Celeste went back full force and her passion for singing re-emerged. Impressing various audiences, Celeste won Seattle’s Tawag ng Tanghalan at the then known Karaoke Bar KAWAYAN Restaurant & Bar. This paved the way for her new singing role as Seattle’s Filipino Karaoke Diva and launched her on another phase of her singing career. She started doing front acts for various productions of celebrities from the Philippines, among them Gabby Concepcion, Arnel (Pineda), Bamboo and Marcelito Pomoy. Celeste is also a dancer and danced since she was 18 years old. This prowess showed in her performances as front act/headliner where she incorporates dancing in her acts. She is a certified Retrofitness instructor which accounts for her energetic body movements. Celeste was featured in Pagdiriwang in the past and her metamorphosis is not really surprising. She has become a total performer. |
| 4:00pm-5:00pm |
Barrio Fiesta Dances featuring SAYAW of FASA at UW. Liezel Moraleja-Hackett and Patrick Pineda, dance instructors and choreographers. |
| 5:00pm-6:00pm | VIDEO featuring Janna Peña on piano, The Quarentados, and Philippine Weaves. Quarentados is a multi-awarded virtual choir born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, composed of Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Batch 1982 friends who love singing. All are professionals based in different places around the globe, each wanting to spread messages of love and hope, as well as to give back through the power of music. The group first performed at the 1st Virtual PSHS Alumni Homecoming in September 2020. Their choir videos have garnered 1st Place awards at the 2020 and 2021 PSHS Alumni Paskorus competitions, 1st Place and 2nd Place honors at the 2020 and 2021 caroling contests sponsored by the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. The choir has also performed virtually at official PSHS events, fundraising concerts for Save the Children Philippines, and at Filipino-American festivals. In November 2022, Quarentados became international recording artists with the world-wide release of their first EP album, “Timeless”, under the Kick-A-Beat Records label, on the major music streaming platforms. |
ARMORY COURT (ALL-DAY)
Violeta Noriega has been the curator and creative force behind the Philippine culinary special events and exhibits at the annual Pagdiriwang Festival at the Seattle Center and in various North American events over the years. She shares, elevates and enhances the Philippine food art and presentation with her innovative and inspiring ideas. Filipino arts and handcrafted items are featured in her creations of simple, elaborate and unique table settings. Violeta has done workshops, demonstrations, displays, exhibits and videos on the many aspects of the Philippine Table Arts.
Noriega is the author of the popular cookbook Philippine Recipes Made Easy which is on its 10th printing and has garnered many positive reviews on amazon.com and from users. She serves the educational community as a resource for Philippine books, bilingual children’s books and materials. Violeta holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.
Fred and Dorothy Cordova have been involved in Filipino American activism since the 1950s. They began promoting Filipino American identity at a young age with student publications and organizations at Seattle University, where they attended college. In 1957, they formed and directed the Filipino Youth Activities (FYA), with activities ranging from soccer to folk dancing and parade marching. The FYA became an important force for organizing demonstrations in the 1960s and 1970s.
Dorothy Laigo Cordova also served as Director for the Demonstration Project for Asian Americans (DPAA), which conducted a wide variety of studies on the problems Asian Americans faced in the 1970s. Through the DPAA, she collected research and oral histories. After the DPAA closed in the early 1980s, the Cordovas moved their work to a new organization that they created called the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), where Dorothy is Founder and Executive Director. Fred Cordova, the author of Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans, served as Founding President Emeritus, Trustee, and Archivist of FANHS.
FANHS now has more than 40 chapters around the United States. In Seattle, it houses the National Pinoy Archives, which is one of the largest collections on Filipino American history anywhere. It includes thousands of materials on individuals and organizations throughout the United States. The FANHS National Museum is located in Fred Cordova’s hometown of Stockton, California.
Cited and edited from Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Program
Jaime ‘Jimmy’ Javier is a Business Management (BSBM) degree holder from the Ateneo de Manila University and finished his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines Law School as a working student.
Prior to his admission to the Philippine Bar, he was a radio broadcaster for RJFM 100.3 aka ‘Sneakers’. Jimmy also acted in TV and movies. His role as ‘Vince’ in the film ‘Batch ‘81’ earned him nominations for Best Supporting Actor from the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) and the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Urian Awards).
He was a tenured sportscaster for the PBA, PBL and the UAAP in his spare time.
In government service at the national level, he worked as Chief of Staff in both the Philippine Senate & Congress. Later at the municipal level, he worked with the Office of the Mayor in Javier, Leyte, assisting with government funding for the town’s infrastructure projects. Before his retirement, he was a consultant for a multinational construction firm.
He learned to take snapshots started with unexposed Eastman short ends left over from ‘Batch ‘81’ movie film reels. The short ends from the film’s cinematographer were later spooled and loaded on a borrowed Nikon film camera. When modern gear evolved from film to digital, Jimmy rekindled his interest in photography. Working in Leyte allowed for an intimate window into the daily lives of the town’s residents.
‘Snapshots .. Life in Rural Philippines’ is a collection of human interest images which were taken during his weekly visits to his hometown from 2011 to 2015.
ARMORY BALCONY (ALL-DAY)
ARMORY CONFERENCE ROOM 301 (ALL-DAY)
Adrian Alarilla is a writer, filmmaker, and a PhD Candidate in History at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa studying Filipino migration focusing on kinship networks and genealogies of movement in both U.S. empire and Filipino nation. Born and raised in the Philippines, he is currently based in Seattle. He also helps organize the Southeast Asia x Seattle Film Festival and the annual Diwa Filipino Film Festival at the Seattle Center. His films parallel his research interests, as he uses the personal documentary genre to reflect on and process the contemporary experience of Filipino migration. He has shown his works, including his first full-length documentary film project, “Kung Saan Man Tayo (Wherever We May Be),” all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Cambodia, Bangladesh, South Korea, and the Philippines.
Joann Natalia Aquino is a writer, a publicist, an arts marketer, and a traveling freelance journalist covering lifestyle including the arts, food, travel and wellness. She has over 25 years experience in the communications field from writing and editing, to public relations, marketing and community engagement. She is a lifelong student of life, traditional healing practices, plant medicine, indigenous foodways and pre-colonial Philippine traditions. Committed to mind-body-spirit holistic health, Joann is trained as an herbalist, a birth and postpartum doula and in various healing modalities.
Jose Gutierrez III is a filmmaker, photographer, multimedia designer, researcher, and educator. With a doctoral degree in film studies and communication, Joni is passionate about advocating for minority representation in cinema and promoting inclusivity in society. He aims to make a positive impact through educational programs, including the web series, "Film 101," available on various social media platforms.
ARMORY LOBBY (ALL-DAY)
NOEL BOTE BAUTISTA was born in 1969 in Taal Batangas Philippines. At an early age Noel was a lover of art. He is especially drawn to painting fish and landscapes. He was consistent in joining and winning Art contests during his elementary school, high school and college years. Noel graduated from the Lyceum of the Philippine University with a BSBA degree in Marketing in 1993.
Noel continued to paint and became active in the Philippine art scene. Years passed and in 2003 Noel made the big decision to immigrate to the USA. His dream to have his first solo show in New York City was fulfilled in 2010. He also mounted his second solo show in 2013 at the Big Apple.
In 2017 Noel had his Third solo Exhibit at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma, Washington. This show featured undersea paintings.
Noel's major theme of Enigma Sculptures will be his ultimate life commitment as an artist. In November 2015, Noel formally opened the BOTE ART MUSEUM at his birthplace in TAAL. This is another life dream success the artist.
ARMORY LOFT 2 (ALL-DAY)
Leia Maminta Smith grew up in the Philippines. She moved to the US in pursuit of science and completed her PhD in Tumor Cell Biology from Northwestern University. She trained in molecular biology at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and at the National Cancer Institute, Maryland. She worked in academic and biotech organizations and is currently a scientific consultant. To explore her love of photography, she immersed herself in learning more about the history, techniques and business of photography. She is a co-Vice President of Seattle Photographic Society. She has earned multiple awards from the Northwest Council of Camera Clubs and Shoreline Arts Festival. She enjoys doing family portraits and travel photography.
Al is a graphic designer and multimedia artist based in Quezon City, Philippines. He got his BFA degree in Visual Communications at the University of the Philippines. For this exhibit, his large landscape photographs feature the grandiose natural beauty of the Philippines that inspires awe and amazement from travelers. Playing with exposure, contrast, color, and perspective, Alarilla's photographs demonstrate how one can weave with light, and in turn create thought-provoking images of the Philippines.
My name is Johnedel Matias. I am an Ibaloi Igorot-Filipino Canadian, a person of Indigenous decent from the northern mountains of the Philippines. My ancestry consists of my mom whom hails from Kabayan and my dad from Bocod, both mountain towns of the Ibalois in the province of Benguet. Throughout the years, I've gone on many adventures where I've documented my experiences. My background and personal inspiration coalesce with my vision of photojournalistic documentation. My influences and inspiration can be directly attributed to various mediums and people I look up to. I have found inspiration through photography from people from my community and heritage as well as others more well known. The outdoors, my personal experiences, as well as my own cultural background all inspire my vision and what I do with photography.
Artist Statement: The theme of “Weaving Together” is a phrase that is a living expression of us Igorots. Long has the practice of weaving been a staple of our people. The purpose of which has also been one of the connections we have had with the low lands for centuries in terms of trade. From Ifugao Nation, Sagada Weaving, Kabayan Weaving, Nardas, Easter Weaving and others whom I missed to mention, all these mentioned and more are those who keep the practice alive. From labourers to folks that still practice as part of their family tradition, our people have long continued this thread of our heritage alive. With a few of these pictures I wish to share a glimpse into our rich history, our rich heritage, and the living tradition that is in our fabric and blood. Thank you for allowing me to share these with you and thank you to the folks who made these pictures happen.
ARMORY LOFT 3 (ALL-DAY)
ARMORY LOFT 4
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 12:00pm-1:00pm |
Tribal Tattoo Lecture Featuring Lane Wilcken, author and Mambabatek or cultural practitioner of the ancient arts of the Philippines, focusing on the spiritual practice of indigenous hand-tap tattoos. |
| 1:00pm-2:00pm |
Baybayin Ancient Writing System Lecture Featuring Kristian Kabuay, artist and instructor of the ancient Philippine script, Baybayin |
| 2:00pm-6:00pm | Handtapped Tattoo Demonstration by Lane Wilcken |
MURAL AMPHITHEATRE (ALL-DAY)
Teza Mendoza has been a volunteer of the Pagdiriwang for more than a decade. She started as assistant talent coordinator to Chito Refuerzo for Musika at Iba and later took on the responsibility. With her link to the band network, Teza invited Filipino American performers from all over the Puget Sound area and neighboring states, scouring events and places and showcased them for the live Musika at Iba Pa segment of the Pagdiriwang. For the past two years when Pagdiriwang went virtual, Teza developed and put together the videos to be able to feature and share talents of up and coming FilAM performers in the Puget Sound.
Ihaw-Ihaw is Tagalog for barbecuing, which reflects the natural, laid back quality of their music. Starting in 2004, the core group decided to make their jam sessions an annual tradition at the infamous Pinoy Hill at Seward Park. The Ihaw-Ihaw Jam Project is a collection of musicians that play Original Pilipino Music (OPM). OPM is a sweep of music genres from rock to folk, to pop with a twist of Filipino culture. The unique intertwining of the U.S.-Philippine cultural relationship fostered a surging of OPM in the tumultuous 70s, highlighted by activism against abuse in the arena of socio-political issues.
OVERVIEW
Seattle Center Festál presents Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival in partnership with the Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW). The festival celebrates Philippine culture, arts, and history through food, exhibits, performing arts, fashion show, martial arts, and more.
HISTORY
The Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW) is a non-profit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. It is committed to nurturing and proudly expressing the finest and all that is beautiful and enduring in the Filipino culture. Its primary objective is to perpetuate, educate and share Filipino culture and heritage with the people of Washington through music, dance, arts, history, literature, and crafts.
The FCHSW logo is a stylized symbolic rendering of the Sarimanok, one of the greatest mythical symbols in Philippine folk culture. In the southern Philippines, only royalty can use the Sarimanok in their banners or family emblems. The Sarimanok symbolizes prestige, wealth and honor.
In 1987, FCHSW presented its first festival at the Seattle Center. It was a showcase of Filipino culture timed to coincide with the celebration of Philippine Independence.
In 1997, Pagdiriwang became one of five ethnic festivals to join Festál, a series of events celebrating the city's various cultures.
In 1998, the festival and worldwide Filipinos celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.
In 2011, the festival reached a milestone of 25 years.
Since its first festival in 1987, Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival has continuously been held at the Seattle Center.
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