Philippine Pavilion at Carassauga gets better every year

Philippine Pavilion at Carassauga gets better every year

Not even the members of Culture Philippines of Ontario (CPO) would have thought that it can best the prior years’ presentations and performances at the Philippine pavilion during the recently concluded Carassauga Festival in Mississauga.

Having won the best pavilion of the year for two consecutive years in the past, and considering last year’s unprecedented opportunity to bring in the talented group of the Kaisahan Ng Lahi from the Philippines, it is really hard to imagine how CPO can put up a better presentation in 2006 than before.

However, because of the fierce but friendly competition posed by the many new pavilions that are joining the Carassauga Festival, CPO’s only alternative is to put up the best show each and every time.
As usual, the resourcefulness, the talent and the energy of the many young CPO performers, CPO members, and the creativity of CPO’s artistic director, Ms. Eleanor Kalash, CPO did not fail the expectations of the Carassauga audiences.

Of the four high caliber pavilions at Hershey’s Centre, the Philippine pavilion was noted to have more and better shows, thus it was more crowded and more popular. “Mas maganda kaysa last year” quipped an observer. The efforts paid off with an unofficial number of pavilion visitors of 20,000 compared to previous years’ average of 14,000. CPO is very thankful to those who came. CPO is also very grateful to have Dr. Solon Guzman as the main emcee of the Philippine pavilion.

It was very fortunate that the Kaisahan Ng Lahi musicians, Carlo Lopez and Jules Calum, were able to perform during this year’s presentation. They played the ethnic musical instruments and accompanied all the dance presentations with their live music. This meant a lot to the dancers as the music played and adjusted to the tempo of their dance steps. Some CPO kids were also encouraged to try the ethnic instruments.

Besides the great music, dances, singing idol competition, the ever popular pabitin, the food by FV foods and Asian Flavour was a come on to everyone. Mr. John Tanjanco, Director of the Philippine Department of Tourism, worked tirelessly during the three-day festival providing tourism materials and tending to the multitude of queries from the pavilion visitors.

CPO would like to invite you all to join us celebrate Filipino Day at Paramount Canada’s Wonderland on Labour Day weekend on Saturday, September 2, 2006. Local talents interested to participate, please contact Ms. Luz del Rosario at (905) 542-8747.

(PRESS RELEASE)