Filipino group to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month with June event

A local group of about 10 friends and family members have banded together to create an event to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month in June.

“What gave me the idea is that every year we come together for Christmas, right, for the holidays, but that’s only like once a year. And ever since the Filipino Heritage Month… has been passed into an act in 2022, and ever since, we haven’t really had a celebration to kind of honour that event in Manitoba, especially here in the Southeast,” said co-organizer Angelica San Juan.

San Juan, who used to be an officer with the Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association, estimates the number of Filipinos in the Southeast sits at about 5,000. Statistics Canada reports that in 2021, a 25 percent sample of the population of Steinbach recorded 1,520 Filipinos, or 8.6 percent of the population. Manitoba has the highest rate of Filipinos per capita in Canada at 94,315 people, or 7.2 percent of the population, according to government statistics.

“We have quite a growing population of Filipinos in Steinbach, and not just in Steinbach, but like around the Southeast. And so this is a perfect opportunity to just come together and just recognize the contributions and to celebrate our heritage and to celebrate our new home here in the Southeast,” said San Juan, remarking that Filipinos choose to live in the Southeast because it’s peaceful, has a welcoming spirit, and economically businesses like HyLife employ a lot of Filipinos in manufacturing/production jobs.

San Juan said, for her personally, it is a great honour to have Filipino heritage recognized by the government in such a way and underscoring that the community is a vital part of the economy, a cultural contributor, and more.

“It brings us pride to know that we are being recognized that way on a provincial level,” she said.

When describing her culture, San Juan said Filipinos are resilient, adaptable, hospitable, like to have fun with a smile always on their faces, and loving.

“We welcome everyone. So, we’re really happy that the Southeast community, the City of Steinbach, welcomes us here. And this way as well, the celebration, we’re also welcoming not just Filipinos, but everyone to attend.”

Filipino Heritage Month Celebration will take place at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre on June 13 at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, with children 12 and under entering for free.

“I would say the whole vibe would be kind of like a social night,” said San Juan.

The evening will have the traditional Filipino delicacy Sisig, a chopped pork dish, that can be enjoyed with a beer sold at the event. The evening will also have a raffle and 50/50 draw. Live music by Filipino bands YZZA Band, The Sissiwit Band, and Steinbachers Gerald Chuhiwon and his son, Fitzge,will entertain guests with a mix of English and Filipino traditional and nostalgic music, which San Juan encourages people to sing along with “like a big karaoke night.”

“This is a party, that’s what we’re going to do…then there will also be dancing. Somebody will…insert a Zumba portion in that evening cause, you know, we Filipinos love to do Zumba,” said San Juan laughingly.

“We’re hoping it’s going to be just a really big celebration to kick off the summer.”

The evening will also have a community mixer for community organizations and businesses. Any group that buys a table of 10 will be verbally recognized at the event.

“We’re recognizing all the different Filipino businesses, professionals, you know, so that community mixer will just reserve tables for all the businesses that are in the Southeast and not just Filipino owned, but Filipino allied too. If you’re a company who supports the Filipino community, you’re free to join and reserve a table.”

To reserve tables call or text San Juan at 204-392-5933 or visit CDO Oriental Store at 20 Brandt Street in Steinbach next to the new Dollarama. Individual tickets can also be bought at CDO or at the door.

Should the event prove popular, San Juan said it will become an annual celebration.