On Saturday, October 2, 2021, community organizations, leaders, and artists gathered for the Little Manila Block Party, to mark the beginning of Filipino American History Month, recognizing the community’s achievements and contributions to US history. The event took place 11am-4pm at 70th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, in Woodside Queens, the heart of the NYC Filipino community. The event was free and attendees were encouraged to explore the Little Manila neighborhood and support the local businesses.

A central value to the community is the concept of bayanihan—a spirit of civic unity and cooperation among Filipinos. This event will include a community fair, a talent showcase, and community workshops and activities that will highlight the work and talents of the New York City Filipinos and the Little Manila community in Woodside, Queens. The community fair included organizations that offered support in many forms including legal services, civic engagement, transnational mutual aid, and cultural work. The talent showcase highlighted cross-generational and interdisciplinary talent to emphasize the diversity of Filipino American voices and storytelling, ranging from writers to traditional dance to drag performance.

Food will also play a central role at the Little Manila Block Party with the event Pamimiyesta Adobo Contest. The objective was to involve different generations of Filipino cooks in NYC to showcase their unique versions of adobo, a vinegar-infused stew considered to be universally enjoyed across classes of society. The term “pamimiyesta” refers to the act of going from one neighbor to another during a Filipino fiesta, and eating a free meal. Fiestas are a renowned tradition for Filipinos, held in every town across the Philippines, celebrating important milestones for local communities.

PROJECT WEBSITE

Little Manila Block Party 2021

EVENT ORGANIZERS

National Alliance for Filipino Concerns-Northeast (NAFCON-NE)
Diverse Streets Initiative
Filipino American National Historical Society-Metro New York (FANHS-NY)
Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts
Woodside on the Move

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

Migrante NY
Legal Good
Filipino Americans for Racial Action
Malaya NY
National Federation of Filipino American Associations - NY Chapter
Anakbayan Queens
New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
Mission to End Modern Slavery (MEMS)

TALENT SHOWCASE

Rohan Zhou-Lee
Bibingka Mama
Daphne Palasi Andreades
Jacqueline De Dios
Kyra Cuevas
Gotham Dance Theater
Kinding Sindaw

WORKSHOPS

Weaving with Cynthia Alberto of Weaving Hand
“Mother Tongue Karaoke” with artist Jevijoe Vitug
“Know Your Rights” workshop with lawyer Lara Gregory
Filipino Martial Arts workshop with Francis Estrada

NOTES

Little Manila Block Party Portraits by Lugao Kasberg

PRESS

Block Party Celebrating Filipino History and Culture to Take Place in Woodside Saturday
Little Manila Block Party Celebrates Filipino American History, Culture