Taste of Manila: A Huge Pinoy Street Festival Waiting to Happen
Taste of Manila: A Huge Pinoy Street Festival Waiting to Happen
By Rachelle Cruz
There’s Korea town, China town, Greek town, and now there’s Little Manila. You won’t find jeepneys bumper-to-bumper stuck in traffic, or street-kids selling Sampaguitas under the searing heat of the sun but the first ever Filipino street festival at Bathurst and Wilson Avenue is as close to home as it can get. Large crowds flocked north of Toronto- and got a real “Taste of Manila”. North York Centre city marshalls have estimated that the Pinoy fest drew in 25,000 people on its launch date by mid-afternoon and 30,000 people the following day, with crowds spilling out into the streets. The historic event celebrated Filipino food, local artists and bands, folk dances, as well as Pinoy street games. About 65 vendors set up shop across the tiny strip lane, offering their services, clamoring for new customers, and serving up traditional dishes that had people lining up till the day turned night. Let’s not forget special guest Kapamilya star Gerald Anderson, one of the main attractions, who charmed his way through the crowds.
Brought to you by the Philippine Cultural Community Centre (PCCC) in association with the Philippine Consulate General Office of Toronto, “Taste of Manila” presented by Western Union and TFC, kicked off from August 23 to 24. While it unfolded over the weekend, this event was in fact, six years-in-the-making. The Philippine Reporter caught up with the man behind it all, Rolly Magante, who pulled his resources, and honed in his patience, to make it happen,
“Unang una, yung Taste of Manila, matagal na usapin yon. Almost anim na taon yun, bago ngayon lang nabuo. Pagkat yan inumpasin ng aming consul general, para makipag-ugnayan sa mga businesses dito at saka mga community. After nang six years, na isip ko, ano kaya ang pwede gawin dito satin- sa kadamihan ng mga Filipino dito,” he explained.
Rolly Magante (left), Taste of Manila lead organizer, with Marissa Corpus and her staff at Magaworld booth. PHOTO: Ariel Ramos
“Itong January 14 binigyan ako ng signal (from City of Toronto) na pwede ko nang simulan. Bumoo ako ng board of directors, at buti na lang yung municipal dito sumoporta. At dun nangyari ang Taste of Manila, na binuo sa pamamagitan ko nag tiyaga ako para sa lahat ng community , para makinabang tayo at bigyan natin nang kasayahan ang lugar na ito,” he continued.
But it wasn’t until early this year that he was given the green signal from the City of Toronto to make his street festival dream a reality. Joseph Cruz Franco, treasurer and secretary of PCCC said that Magante formed the board in January, and by the following month, decided on the dates August 23 to 24. PCCC board member Philip Beloso further confirmed that there were no other Filipino festivals happening on those dates. By late February, the board met with City of Toronto officials, and were given a temporary permit to hold the festival.
“We got our conditional permit sometime in May. Actually our first application originally was turned down by the city because it was supposed to be at the street of Wilson Avenue from Bathurst going west due to construction. It was with the help of Ward 10 Councillor Pasternak that we had a plan B that is to do it on Bathurst St. instead, from corner of Wilson Avenue going North of Bathurst to Allingham st.,” Franco explained.
Crowd thickens further towards late afternoon, awaiting the festival’s stars from the Philippines led by Gerald Anderson. PHOTO: Ariel Ramos
It wasn’t until July of this year that their final permit was released. As the City gave them the green signal, they restlessly ploughed away to organize the event for that weekend. As it turned out, long-time running Philippine Independence Day Council’s (PIDC) Mabuhay Festival coincided with Taste of Manila.
“We were so nervous when we found out that it fell on the same dates, because Mabuhay is so big,” Franco admitted.
Still, the overwhelming success of the event was undeniable, and may have come off as a surprise to some. From Sen. Tobias Enverga, to Philippine Consulate General of Toronto Junever Mahilum-West, and among other VIPs, they acknowledged the hard work and sleepless nights of the slew of organizers, volunteers and media team who also acted as trouble shooters and pulled threads to make the gargantuan event possible. Speaking to a few of Magante’s sidekicks Filbert Wong and Warren John, they barely got shut eye.
But it paid off. MP Mark Adler, for the Toronto riding of York Centre, during his remarks, sprinkled some water over the crowd as he “baptized” the corner as “Little Manila”. He further expressed his thoughts on the Filipino community coming together, “I’m so lucky, I grew up in this area and now I’m raising my family here. You know and the Filipino community is so about helping others and that’s what we try to do, we work very closely with them. With so many people today, we baptized this corner here as Little Manila and we got to make that official and everyone is so happy, and I’m so glad to be here,” he exclaimed.
Caregivers and students of a school for personal health workers were too happy to pose for pictures. PHOTO: Ariel Ramos
Toronto Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow, John Tory and Rob Ford made their appearances, took their time to mingle with the crowd, and ended their remarks with ‘Mabuhay Canada! Mabuhay Filipinos!’ They echoed.
“I’ve seen whether it’s at a basketball tournament or whether at this Taste of Manila festival, the Mabuhay Festival later on, it’s a great community, it’s contributing in every part of Toronto’s life and we have to celebrate that,” Tory said.
Sure, the trailblazing moment caught like wildfire, and forecast says that it will return again every year, bigger and better. If you didn’t make it there, Mstudio productions managed the live broadcast streaming of events as entertainment unfolded and brought the infectious energy to a new high.
But it’s worthwhile to take a look back at why Taste of Manila found its recipe for success: Strategic location. Bathurst and Wilson has organically grown as the hub for the Filipino community in Toronto. It’s the epicentre of Filipino entrepreneurial activity, the workplace of OFWs, and the tambayan of seniors and students alike. It all started here sometime ago.
From left, Amelia Montesa, Ambassador Clemencio Montesa, Teste of Manila organizer Rolly Magante and former Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan. Photo: HG
Throwback to the 1950s, there were very few Filipinos in Canada. It wasn’t until the late 1970s, where the country saw an influx of Overseas Filipino Workers, commonly termed as OFWs, mostly women who held jobs in the health sector. Filipino immigrants flooded the area as swelling demand and need for personal support workers, nurses, and nannies gave rise. Many of them fell under the Live-In Caregiver Program. Later on, Filipinos joined their relatives under the family reunification program, and naturally gravitated to Toronto where jobs prospered. Bathurst and Wilson is one of the areas where they concentrated and settled. Gradually, Filipinos started their own businesses, to cater to the growing Filipino presence. It became a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity – from remittance stores, to hair salons, restaurants, and carinderia-style shops, services that Filipinos needed started to pop up in the scene. Bong Capitin, owner of Cusina Lounge and one of the Taste of Manila organizers couldn’t agree more.
“Strategically the location is a factor,” he said, on why Taste of Manila was buzzing with entrepreneurial activity.
Dr. Francisco Portugal (2nd from right), President of Canadian Aid & Relief Project, and volunteers at the first aid station at Taste of Manila. PHOTO: HG
“It’s also the new features of entertainment like palaro sa kalsada, palosebo, and paluan ng palayok. And of course the Cusina-sponsored boodle fight,” he added.
Of course what’s a fiesta without Pinoy food? From ihaw-ihaw, to chicken adobo, pancit and longanisa, food is always the main attraction as dozens lined up to get fed. Clearly, the turnout surpassed the organizers’ expectations.
Still, one of the sweetest rewards for Magante came straight from his daughter Jacqueline,
“This event is really exciting. It makes me proud especially because it’s our dad who organized it! Everywhere you turn you see people having fun and smiling. Congratulations dad! All the sleepless nights and hard work paid off and now it’s a success and it’s exciting. Love you!” she said.
Cusina Lounge was mobbed by a hungry crowd throughout the day. Who can resist that aroma of barbecue coming from the Wilson-Bathurst Plaza? PHOTO: HG
Western Union country manager Chito Gonzales (2nd from right) and an
executive manager (right) with volunteer staff.
A family having lunch
on the street.
Comments (2)
Categories