RAINS FAIL TO DAMPEN FESTIVE FILIPINO SPIRIT AT 2^ND PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL IN TOKYO

Crowds brave the rain in Tokyo to participate in the 2nd Philippine Festival at the Yoyogi Park on 14 July 2007.

19 July 2007 — Huddled under their umbrellas and in their raincoats, crowds braved the torrential rain in Tokyo to join in the festivities of the 2nd Philippine Festival – Philippine Fiesta 2007 at Yoyogi Park on Saturday, 14 July 2007.

This year's Festival, organized by the Philippine Embassy, the Department of Tourism and the Filipino Community in Japan , featured a major cultural and entertainment program courtesy of DOT Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Around 75 booths were also set up selling and advertising Filipino cuisine and a wide range of products and services. To add to the revelry, the Filipino community in the Tokyo area prepared an interactive exhibition of Philippine culture, which gave visitors the opportunity to have a close-range and hands-on experience of traditional games, music, dance and art.

A festival booth – one of around 75 – sells Filipino delicacies at the Fes tival ground.

The Festival was opened with a simple ceremony attended by Ambassadors from several embassies, high-ranking Japanese government officials, members of the Filipino community and other dignitaries. Philippine Ambassador to Japan Domingo L. Siazon, Jr. officiated the ribbon-cutting together with the Guests of Honor, namely the Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, and the Philippine Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr.  

After the ceremony, guests and visitors were treated to a musical and dance extravaganza by the CCP. The cultural program featured a suite of Filipino folk dances by the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, dance numbers by the Ballet Philippines Kidz and Ballet Manila, a medley of Filipino songs by acclaimed stage veterans Isay Alvarez and Robert Seña, and an Ati-Atihan show by the Tribu Bola-Bola Drummers.  

Filipinos, Japanese and visitors of other nationalities continued to flock to Yoyogi to catch the afternoon program. Following the encore performance of the CCP, popular TV host/actress Toni Gonzaga hosted a short variety show, while renowned musician Ryan Cayabyab wowed the crowd with a repertoire of hit songs performed by stage actress/singer Bituin Escalante and Japan-based jazz singer Marlene de la Peña. The program ended with a classical guitar performance by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan.

Traditional Filipino dances, performed close to the audience, prove to be a success among the festival-goers.

Despite forecasts that typhoon Man-yi – said to be the strongest on record to hit Japan in July – would directly pass Tokyo , turnout at the Festival was high and beat expectations. In his opening speech, Ambassador Siazon thanked everyone, including Minister Fuyushiba, for going out of their way to be part of the Festival in spite of the inclement weather. The Festival, he said, is proof of the strong sense of community among Filipinos and the friendship between Filipinos and Japanese notwithstanding the odds and difficulties.  END

/jay

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