The 47th Annual Philippine Weekend Festival returns to the City of Delano, kicking off Filipino American History Month. October 18th is marked as the date recorded for the arrival of the “Luzones Indios” in the United States, specifically at Morro Bay. In 2009, the month of October was proclaimed Filipino History Month, ensuring a month of celebration, community, strength, and resilience.
The two-day event, held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Memorial Park in Delano, was commemorated with a parade on Saturday morning. The parade filled the streets of Delano with vibrant music performed by several elementary and high school band teams. The parade was followed by a car show, basketball tournaments, singing contests, and additional forms of entertainment to engage the community.
Filipino Weekend welcomed not only the Filipino community but also the entire community of Delano. Multiple food vendors and exhibitions were available, each showcasing a different aspect of Filipino culture’s richness.
The FANHS-Delano, one of the many organizations to hold an exhibition at the event, recognized the importance of uplifting the significant impact and history made by the Filipino community in Delano. Their table held information regarding the organization and the Delano historic grape strike.
A spokesperson with the FANHS-Delano told community members that their goal is “to preserve and uplift our stories and history.”
Angel De Leon spoke about why this event is important for her.
“It brings the whole Filipino community together, and it’s just a way to celebrate this month, which is Filipino Culture Month,” said De Leon.
From residents to newcomers from outside of Kern, all joined together and immersed in the Filipino culture and the local talent in town.
“It’s really big for our community to be able to come together with family and friends to just celebrate. I hope others see that family and friends are really important for us, as well as the bonds we have with others. We can unite as a community,” explained De Leon.
