Calgary’s Filipino Festival celebrates nostalgic taste of home

Calgary’s Filipino Festival returned to Olympic Plaza this weekend, with organizers saying they want to bring a Taste of the Philippines to Calgary.

They are doing this by sharing a taste of food and culture, looking to bring memories of the Philippines to Calgary.

“A lot of it has to do with the nostalgia feeling with the Filipino community,” said Michael Juarez Director of Communications for the Filipina Festival Council of Alberta.

Together they are celebrating Filipino pride and bringing the flavours and culture of the island nation to Alberta.

“We do a lot of the things set up where it brings them back to memories back home.”

Guests from across Western Canada took in the three-day event, celebrating arts, local and international music, and most of all, community.

“I love our Filipino culture and to celebrate it with the Filipinos right now and to have all the fantastic vendors and stalls representing the culture, I’m kinda feeling it right now,” said one attendee.

“It’s really that draw of bringing back the crowd to their days back home in the Philippines, so it feels like they’re back home, they get to taste all of the tasty treats that they remember,” said Juarez.

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Juarez says that Filipino food is one of the original fusion foods, as the country saw so many culinary influences, which he says is on display during the festival.

“Because we take a little bit from all the countries all around us and we just infuse the flavours together, so we’ve got stuff like curries, we’ve got stews, we’ve got fried foods,” said Juarez.

And foods showcasing different regions of the country.

And for those looking to push their limits and try something new, there’s plenty to choose from.

“If you’re a bit more courageous, we do have some stuff that was featured on Fear Factor, it’s called balut, which is boiled duck fetus.”

The festival will wrap up Sunday with more performances and a fashion show.

Filipino Festival made its home in Olympic Plaza this weekend, with organizers saying they want to bring a taste of the Philippines to Calgary. (Photo: Jillian Code, CityNews Calgary)

Filipino Festival made its home in Olympic Plaza this weekend, with organizers saying they want to bring a taste of the Philippines to Calgary. (Photo: Jillian Code, CityNews Calgary)