Taste of Manila, for a festival newbie, is very well put together. Only on its third year, it has now set the gold standard for Filipino community cultural celebrations.
It was a tough beginning for the fledgling organizers, as may be expected of every new undertaking of its kind. But for a few blessings, including their dogged determination and the unprecedented popularity of their event, on their third try finally they have laid the proverbial golden egg.
This time everything went smoothly, unlike in the previous years. From the opening act, to the flag raising, throughout the programs, with all the honored guests. there were no fiascos, no embarrassments. Nobody messed up so no apologies were needed. All the patrons, revelers and gastronomes had a good time.
An estimated 350,000 people enjoyed the event, Community groups, associations, competitors, visitors, kababayans of every kind, all were there with the same purpose and sentiment, to socialize and bond with compatriots. To feel at home in a Philippine setting with fellow men, enjoying Pinoy food and cultural presentations. just to be in a crowd of fellow Pinoy in your adopted home has to be the overwhelming single motivation in everyone’s mind.
The honored and special guests were led by our political leaders, with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, no less showing up on the first day, and Ontario’s Premier Kathleen Wynne visiting on the second day.
Other guests included MP Marco Mendicino, MP Michael Levitt and Toronto Mayor John Tory.
It was certainly a scene to behold when these politicians went around to hobnob with the crowd, they were amiable and respectful and the people just loved them. It was the total opposite in previous years with the party-crashing Harper Conservatives.
How it all happened last year will forever be a part of the Taste of Manila history. The PC will have a hard time to get the respect back till that reminder of their big mistake is in front of us.
The organizers deserve all the credit. Rolly Mangante – chairman, Pepito Torralba – Vice chair, Lino Eroma, Bong Capitin, Danny Doma and Joseph Franco, Directors. In charge of the program are Mon and Teresa Torralba of Making Waves News, and their other volunteers.
A ragtag bunch of professionals brought together by their deep and genuine love for the Filipino community, these tireless and dedicated volunteers spent countless hours at meetings, finalizing program logistics. There were winning lessons to be learned from the already existing street festivals, they handled that very well.
They faced serious challenges from opportunists. Those trying to use them to show they are community leaders for their own purpose. Now they learned the hard way and vowed not to be used and to put their foot down when it happens again. Most of all, they understood by heart what turns us on, and they leveraged that to the max.
The entertainment team, a big component of the festival, once again delivered a lively and solid show. They keep affirming the depth and breadth of Filipino talents in the performing arts.
For going the extra mile in their contributions, special mention goes to the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe, the Men’s Hula, Hanau I Ka Hula Na Kane, and the high energy Retrospect Band that provided music for Saturday night dancing. The sight of a whole community enjoying each other’s presence and generally having a good time- that is so priceless.
New this year was the San Miguel Beer Garden manned by ToM vice chair Pete Torralba. The iconic beverage from the old country was a top attraction, especially for the guys. Many were ecstatic to be reunited with their favorite party drink back home, not knowing that it is available in selected beer outlets here.
Others still swear it is the best beer there is. This claim is subjective but whether it is made out of nostalgia, or because they take pride in it being a Philippine product, what matters now is that all the more it has added to the appeal of the ToM festival. Incidentally, San Miguel beer is also made available by the Fiesta Filipina at their Philippine pavilion during the Carabram festival in Brampton and it is always a hit.
On the flip side, garbage management totally failed. There was not enough garbage bins, nor enough of the city cleaners and trash collectors. Still, people made an effort to dump their refuse where the garbage bins were. Filipinos are known for their tidiness, but this became a sorry situation that could not be helped. Organizers should look into it for next year and maybe ask the city for more people to empty the bins.
Another item that needs to be revisited is the inclusion of Ancop in this year’s program. It may be acknowledged that the intention was well meant, to promote this Filipino group and its charitable mission to the audience.
Given that they are a big organization in themselves with a sizable membership, they can very well stand on their own and do their usual walk in a separate event, just themselves like what they do yearly.
Ancop’s one hour segment paved the way for grandstanding and gave the chance to TOM’s unwelcomed guests or people that are refusing to donate if they are not on stage.
It also raised the question whether ToM will consider giving the same opportunity to similar organizations in the future, like Gawad Kalinga and others
For me, Taste of Manila should remain as a community event and not affiliated with any charity.
Now that ToM history has been raised to its loftiest level, the Filipino Canadian community in the greater Toronto area, whether you were there or not, we all take pride in its overwhelming success. Once and for all, we have shown to all and sundry how disciplined, civilized, and respectful we are as a community.
When our community leaders are dignified to us, we honor them by dignifying them back. Through this fine festival the ToM organizers have spelled out their love for our people and culture, and we loved them back with our best behaviour and respect.
Through this great festival, they have won for us the attention of our adopted country’s political leaders. Now that we have been ranked just behind the Taste of the Danforth street festival, ToM have put us on the map as a valued jewel in these parts.
And best of all, by taking a stand to exclude the political opportunists and similar characters out there, they have categorically and loudly exclaimed who does not speak for us in the Filipino community, or who does not really belong with us.****