2016 Piyesta Pinoy in Bolingrbrook a Huge Success

Piyesta Pinoy in Bolingrbrook a Huge Success-

Year three and stronger than ever!

Bolingbrook, IL — One of Chicagoland’s biggest celebrations of the Philippine culture returned to Bolingbrook for the 3rd year on Saturday, June 11, 2016 and it was a huge success. An estimated crowd of about 7,500 came to join the Piyesta in spite of the very hot and humid weather. For the first time in Piyesta Pinoy Bolingbrook history, we had no rain this year. Thanks to the consistent prayers to St Clare by the volunteers. The weather cooled off later in the evening that brought in more crowd in time for a couple more hours of entertainment featuring two bands and several singers performing at Piyesta for the first time.

“As Mayor of the Village of Bolingbrook for 30 years, I am honored to extend my personal greetings to my Filipino friends for a successful 2016 Philippine Independence Day Fest. The Filipinos play an important role in our community and continue to make significant contributions for the good of all our residents.” said Village of Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar. “Mabuhay and Pilipinas.! Mabuhay po tayong lahat!” said Consul General Generoso Calonge. A huge thank you to Village of Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar and the village staff, to Consul General Generoso Calonge, to Illinois Lt Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, Member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Billy Dec and his mom, Alice Morales representing the Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Illinois State Comptroller Leslie Munger and Romeoville Mayor John Noak for your welcome remarks, program book message and most especially for your presence for those who are able to join our event.

“We would like to express our admiration and appreciation for the tireless efforts of Piyesta Pinoy Planning Committee, our volunteers, cooperation of various NFP organizations, sponsorship of our corporate groups,  individuals, media, food and booth sponsors and performers … to showcase our cultural heritage and traditions … to strive for unity in the community, and … to share our moral values with our youth through community involvement in the celebration of our 118th Philippine Independence Day. We wish to extend our warmest appreciation to the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago and the Village of Bolingbrook for hosting and for their partnership.” said PACF President Adeline Fajardo

This year’s festival was attended by Pinoys from all over the Midwest including Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Iowa and even as far west as Arizona, California and Washington and as far east as New York. Many thanks to The Filipino Channel for bringing celebrities Kim Chiu and Xian Lim stars of the very popular teleserye “The Story of Us” along with versatile emcee Poca from the Bay area in California.

Announcing the Split-the-Pot raffle winners: 1st Prize – R.Simbol, 2nd Prize – Ed Simbol and 3rd Prize – Nancy Hallares. Fifty percent of the cash proceeds went to the raffle winners and the other fifty percent went to PACF funds for cultural and humanitarian projects/

Festival organizer the Philippine American Cultural Foundation would like to thank our organizing partners and hosts – the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago and the Village of Bolingbrook. We also would like to thank our sponsors for their donations and continued support: Platinum Sponsors – The Filipino Channel, Three Horses Jasmin Rice, and Western Union; Gold Sponsors – Amita Health and Seafood City; Silver Sponsors – Bank of America, Country Financial, Darlene Boutiques, LBC Mundial Corporation, Mark A. Tan – T Capital, Salad Master/Triple A Health Venture,  Max Madsen Mitsubishi Signature Events, and Creative Impressions; Bronze Sponsors –  Bolingbrook Bugle , Globe Telecom, Global Cargo Movers LLC, Torre Lorenzo, Philippine Week Committee and WET, Inc; Donors – All State, Cecy & Color Studio Corp, Costco, Nicor Gas, Gerellie Productions LLC, Glendale Heights Barangay Lions Club, Home Depot, Dr. Kha M Nguyen, DMD, PNB, Transformation Beauty Spa and WFG.

Maraming salamat to MegaScene, One Philippines, PINOY News, and VIA Times/CPR TV for media sponsorship. Maraming salamat to product donors  Bar Louie, Costco, Fiesta Market, Francesca’s  Restaurant, Meijer’s, Hong Ning Restaurant, Mabuhay Restaurant, Val’s Asian Mart, Ice cream bars from Magnolia, Siopao from Oriental Kitchen, Three Horses Rice and Longganisa from Uncle Mike’s Place.

Maraming salamat to partners Advocate for Prosperity, AFIRE, APO Midwest Chicago, BIBBAK Illinois, Chicago Suburban Christian Church Melrose Park, CIRCA-Pintig, Circulo Capampangan, Couples for Christ-Families for Life, Derong Brothers, FAASD, FACHIC, The Field Museum, the Filipino American Network, Gawad Kalinga, Iligan – Lanao Association of the Midwest, Inc. (ILAMID), ISFFA, the Legion of Mary, NaFFAA, PESO, the Philippine Nurses Association of Illinois, Reiyukai America, Skeptron Alumni of the Midwest, Top Prado Blades and World Martial Arts Academy.

Maraming salamat to our food vendors Bojo’s, El Taco Grande, FM Asian Food Mart, Kusinang Pinoy, Mang Juan, Mabuhay Restaurant, Manila Fiesta, Uni-Mart, Val’s Asian Mart, Kitty’s Irish Ice, and the concession stand at the venue, Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center.

Maraming salamat to our Parade of Costumes 2016 participants and individual sponsors: Consul General Generoso Calonge, Hermano Mayor Steve Haser, Hermana Maria Haser, Hermanos Dr. Virgilio Jonson, Joe Mauricio, Darwin Posadas, Danny Salazar, Patrick Salazar, Mariano Santos, Edgar Tabalan, Bart Tubalinal and Flo Villegas. Hermanas Fely Bayona, Angie Francisco, Veronica Leighton, Imelda Posadas, Alice Salazar, Sheryl Salazar, Merlinda  Santos, Grace Tabalan, Yolly Tubalinal and Lita Villegas. Ninongs Dr. Amador Acosta, Andy Chen, Rudy Garcia, Ely Natividad, Danny Salonga and Mark Tan. Ninangs Zenaida Acosta, Carmen Garcia, Evelyn Natividad, Ditas Salonga, and Liza Vasich.

Maraming salamat to our amazing performers: National anthem singers Emil Nicolasin and Divine Aleonar; Cultural performers – BIBBAK Illinois, Chicago Anklung and Rondalla Ensemble, Loyola Kapwa Cultural, PACF Performing Arts, UIUC PSA Barkada newcomers Philippine Dance Troupe of Fox Cities from Wisconsin and the Iligan – Lanao Association of the Midwest, Inc. (ILAMID); Singers – Hillford Bacala, Brad Go, Gene Flores , MER with violinist Jason Vinluan, Emil Nicolasin , Chaz Patron, Alyssa Solomon, Kayla Tejero, Nina Mae Vidal and Sychar Yebra; Dancers – Meghan Despojo, Trina Nicolasin and Stephanie Buena; DJ Tony Hurtado; Musical Bands – Blue Marlin Band, Live Wire Band, No Limits Band and Samasama Project; and Emcees Alpha Nicolasin, Lakhi Siap, Ma. Girlie Pascual, and James Delacruz.

Maraming salamat to the chefs of our Fil-Am Chefs Cooking Exhibition: Accomplished Fil-Am Chefs Marilyn McNabb, Enric Tolentino and cooking coach Ren Mendoza are showcasing their own recipes. Special thanks to cooking personality Johanna Mirpuri, also known as Momma Cuisine and host of In the Kitch, for facilitating and engaging the audience during the demonstrations organized by Mango Rice Productions, in partnership with the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) and the Filipino-American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC).

Maraming salamat to providers of our children’s activities: Village of Bolingbrook Park District for the train ride and rock climbing wall, Fountaindale Public Library for the Book Mobile, Village of Bolingbrook Fire Department.

Maraming salamat to our program booklet sponsors: Western Union, Seafood City, Gerellie Productions LLC, Signature Event Design, Max Madsen Mitsubishi, Nicor Gas, Bank of America, Salerno’s Rosedale Funeral Chapels, Darlene Boutiques, Creative Impressions Plus, Salad Master/Triple A Health Venture, LBC Mundial Corporation, Leonida Pureza, Lead Ways Associate, Torre Lorenzo, RJ Jewelry, Amita Health, Mark A. Tan – T Capital, Country Financial, Bigby’s Pour House, Mar & Aning Carlos, Dr Kho Nguyen, DDS and Dr Evelyn Pobes, DDS, Rosemarie Santi, Jasmin Oriental Mart, Three Horses Jasmin Rice and The Filipino Channel.

Maraming salamat to the 2016 Piyesta Pinoy sa Bolingbrook Committee who worked very hard since last year to make this year’s festival a huge success.: Overall chair Ruben Salazar, sponsors/VIPs/First Aid Adeline Fajardo, vendors/sponsors/reserve seating Cindy Lopez and Telly Yumping, food concession and volunteers food Merle Salazar, food vendors Jan Paul Ferrer, partners/cultural/games/marketing Michelle Delson and Rae Joyce Baguilat, BPD Train/Rock Climbing Wall/Library bus/Fire truck Isabella Cerdan, Mayor/Village/Illinois state Officials Liaison Romy Balcita and Michelle White, Finance/raffle/fundraising Pia Natividad, Ely & Evelyn Natividad, Program book/stage manager Anna Gina Millan, Programme Emcees and stage managers Alpha Nicolasin, Lakhi Siap, Ms. Girlie Pascual and James Delacruz, Food cooking demo and marketing Rome Nichols and Donna Reyes, Volunteer coordinators Evcrett Icao and Danie Boyle, Security Allan Desiderio and the Security Team, AV Tech Sound Baron Cabalona, Parade and Stage crew Emil Nicolasin, Social Media Iris Kay Strauss, Mark Tan and Videographer/Photographer/Social Media team, and Marketing Andy Gaston and Celeste Bermejo. Thank you to all our volunteers and unsung heroes and excuse us for not listing all your names. The successful operation of each area from souvenir program to communications, raffles, stage performances, volunteers, cultural activities, delicious food, first aid, and others made this celebration truly enjoyable and… the best ever.  It would not be humanly possible to orchestrate such efficient and meaningful activities without your help.

Lastly, maraming salamat to all our kababayans, families and friends who had attended this year’s festival! We hope to see you again next year! We hope that you will continue to join activities that promote our cultural heritage and traditions and pride as a Filipino American community.  Looking forward to your involvement and participation in our next Filipino community event.  MABUHAY!