FilCom To Expand Annual May Festival

The Filipino Community (FilCom) Center is gearing up for its annual May fest, and this year it’s a weeklong celebration, Flores De Mayo (Flowers of May), running from May 5 to 11 with various events.

The fiesta began 21 years ago as a way to garner support for the building of the FilCom Center, a nonprofit organization that provides cultural, social and educational services from its Waipahu location.

The celebration now is the state’s largest showcase of Filipino culture and attracts thousands of attendees each year.

The Filipino Fiesta and Parade will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 11 at Kapiolani Park and will feature a parade along Kalakaua Avenue, Filipino food, games, cultural exhibits and more.

Also added to the celebration this year will be a Santacruzan Pageant and Parade May 5 and a Philippine Trade Forum and Expo May 7, which will feature networking opportunities and showcase products and services from the Philippines. All events are free.

FilCom Center currently is seeking vendors to participate in the parade, trade expo and fiesta.

“May is the traditional fiesta month in the Philippines, when towns celebrate with colorful festivities to ensure a successful harvest and planting season, as well as honor their patron saints,” said FilCom president Rose Churma.

“With our community partners, we hope to share our culture and traditions, as well as offer opportunities for doing business in the Philippines, which is now experiencing more than 6 to 7 percent growth.

“We’re excited to grow what has become known as Hawaii’s largest Filipino gathering,” she stated.

“This helps expand our outreach and our center’s mission – to promote and perpetuate Filipino culture and customs in the state of Hawaii and beyond.”

For more information about Flores De Mayo or to apply as a vendor, visit filcom.org or call 680-0451.