Bolingbrook, IL — One of Chicagoland’s biggest celebrations of the Philippine culture returned to Bolingbrook for the 6th year on Saturday, June 8, 2019 and it was a huge success. An estimated crowd of about 7,000 to 8,000 came to join the Piyesta that was blessed with a sunny to partly sunny weather in the 70’s most of the day in spite of the light rain that passed thru quickly during the celebrity hour. A huge crowd came as early as the opening at 11am to join and watch the opening parade of costumes followed by the cultural segment of the program. The crowd grew even more in time for the GMA celebrity hour featuring the 2013 Miss World Megan Young. The weather cooled off later in the evening that brought in the party crowd in time for the dance party that featured DJ music, Zumba and two bands that provided dance music the rest of the evening.
“Happy Fiesta to all guests, performers, vendors, sponsors and organizers who have made the 6th Piyesta Pinoy another successful celebration of the Filipino cultural heritage deep in the heart of U.S. Midwest” greeted Consul General Ginal Jamoralin.
This year’s festival started with the Piyesta Pinoy Gawad Kalinga 5K Family Walk. It was a nice way to start the day of festival as walkers and friends gather to do Zumba and stretch exercises just before the walk. Our appreciation to the runners, walkers, advocates, volunteers, friends and donors in support of Gawad Kalinga and Piyesta Pinoy.
As in the previous years, the biggest crowd came during the GMA celebrity hour. Many thanks to GMA Pinoy TV for bringing celebrity actress/singer and 2013 Miss World Megan Young who wowed the crowd with local celebrities Jay Espano, Hill Ford and Father Sunny.
Congratulations to the 2019 Piyesta Pinoy Raffle Winners!! Raffle Ticket Winners
- 1st Prize: ERIC DIZON – One economy class Round Trip to the Philippines donated by Eva Air
- 2nd Prize: JOEY DOMINGO – SALADMASTER Cookware
- 3rd Prize: JINKY BASTES- BURNS – LBC Gift Certificate
- Consolation Prize: TRISA GARCIA -1 Fire HD Amazon Tablet donated by World Remit
Festival organizers, the Philippine American Cultural Foundation and the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago, would like to thank our organizing partners and hosts – the Philippine Consulate General of Chicago and the Village of Bolingbrook, Gawad Kalinga and the Filipino Friendship Society. We also would like to thank our sponsors for their donations and continued support: Platinum Sponsors – GMA Pinoy TV, Three Horses Jasmin Rice and Ramar Foods; Gold Sponsors – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Seafood City; Silver Sponsors – Aledli Home Health Care, Ayala Land, Creative Imprints Plus, Eva Air, LBC, Mega World, Mora Asian Kitchen, Signature Event Designs and World Remit; Bronze Sponsors – Countryside Bank, Cruise Planners, First Student, Futurity First, Globe, Global Cargo Movers, Lumo Xchange, Nena Cosmetics and Sea Express ; Donors – Amita Health, Asian Funeral Services, The Drip, Fiesta Market, Galloping Ghosts Arcade, Nicor Gas and Rainbow Systems. Maraming salamat to Bolingbrook Bugle, MegaScene, PINOY News, and VIA Times/CPR TV for local media sponsorship.
Maraming salamat to Frank Alvarez – Hermano Mayor, Gloria De Guzman – Hermana Mayor, Hermano Gilbert Bermundo, & Hermana Geraldine Gaden, Ninongs & Ninangs Bernie & Ricky Eusebio, Joe Mauricio, Veronica Leighton, Mariano Santos, Merlinda Santos, Bart Tubalinal, Yoly Tubalinal, Ed Hernaez, MD, Nida Hernaez, MD, Gloria Simon, Amador Acosta, MD, Zenaida Acosta, Zosimo Herrera, MD., Maria Gaddi-Herrera, MD., Douglas Tayengco and Teresita Tayengo
Maraming salamat to our food vendors Boba Bar Co, Lina’s Filipino Market, Mabuhay Restaurant, Manila Fiesta, Ramar Foods, Seafood City, and the concession stand at the venue, Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center.
Maraming salamat to our amazing performers: National anthem singers Emil Nicolasin and Raciel Alexis Millan; Cultural and Zarzuela performers – BIBBAK Illinois, Chicago Angklung and Rondalla Ensemble, CIRCA/Pintig, HFCC Kasayahan Cultural Household of Faith Christian Church Kasayahan Cultural Group, Kulturo, PACF Performing Arts, UIC FIA Cultural, Lane Tech Kapamilya Habang Buhay, Pilipino American Seniors of Chicago (PASAC) and Silayan Choir; Variety segment performers – The Barkadas, Chris Valera The Angry Piano, Dahlia Jane Ilada, James and Jannae Agena, Katipunan Martial Arts Collaboration, MJ Sumila and Ukulenny Lenny San Jose; DJ Rex and DJ Kid Kris of Mode Events; Zumba instructor Julie Azarcon; Musical Bands – Lucidblur, Samasama Project, Gr00ve Time Band and No Limits Band; and Emcees – Alpha & Emil Nicolasin and James Delacruz.
Maraming salamat to all our not-for-profit partners and cultural tent participants – BIBBAK IL, Bolingbrook Park District, Chicago Suburban Christian Church, CIRCA Pintig, Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life (CFC-FFL), Derong Brothers, Elisha Marie Glover, Filipino American Association of South Dupage, Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC), Filipino American Lawyers Association (FALA), Filipino American Historical Society Chicago (FAHSC), Filipinx Cultural Workers of Chicago, Filipino Kali Eskrima Academy of Chicago, Filipino Friendship Society, Fred DeAsis, Galloping Ghost Arcade with Jax, Gawad Kalinga , International Society of Filipinos in Finance and Accounting (ISFFA), FYLPRO, HFCC Kasayahan Cultural Group of Chicago, Jeepney Games, Julie Azarcon, Kampilan Eskrima, Legion of Mary, Maktan Chicago & Taboada Balintawak, Migrante Chicago, National Federation of Filipino American Association, PACF Performing Arts, Philippine Engineers and Scientists Organization (PESO), Pekiti-Tirsia Kalirungan, Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project, St John Paul II Parish in Kankakee & Santacruzan, Taboada Balintawak / Maktan FMA and World Martial Arts Academy USA, TRUE Empower, Inc and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Maraming salamat to the 2019 Piyesta Pinoy Planning Committee who worked very hard since last year to make this year’s festival a huge success.: Overall Chair Cindy Lopez and Ruben Salazar, PACF President Adeline Fajardo, Rae Joyce Baguilat, Romy & Tita Balcita, Daniel Boyle, Imelda Cuevo, James Delacruz, Jason Dela Rosa and the Photo/Videographers Team, Michelle Delson, Allen Desiderio and the Security Team, Jan Paul Ferrer, Everett Icao, Cindy Lopez, Trista Maltizo, Anna Gina Millan, Pia Natividad, Evelyn Natividad, Alpha & Emil Nicolasin, Camille Ortega, Marie, Joanna Ramos, Joy Ranay, Abegail Rodriguez, Merle Salazar, Bryan Ranchero and the Philippine Nurses Association of Illinois and all the First Aid Team. Thank you to all our volunteers and unsung heroes and please excuse us for not listing all your names. The successful operation of each area from the planning committee to communications, raffles, stage performances, volunteers, cultural activities, delicious food, vendors, sponsors, partners, 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 all 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, traditions
and pride as a Filipino American community.
Looking forward to your involvement and participation in our next
Filipino community event. MABUHAY!
