Neepawa’s Filipino community put on a great show for Filipino Heritage Month this year. Organizers had a tight timeline to work with once they decided to go ahead with an in-person event, and managed to pull together a full day of activities including a parade, competitions, games, displays, and of course, food. Dignitaries from across the province attended and spoke at the opening ceremony including, among others, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Jon Reyes, whose parents immigrated to Manitoba from the Philippines in 1968 and attended the event in Neepawa with him.

The celebration highlighted the different regions from the Philippines which are now represented in the Neepawa area, each with their own float and parade contingent, regional dance, and team entry into the games competition. NACTV staff member Liway Cabrera interviewed participants in a mix of English and Tagalog to talk about the cultural significance of each region’s parade entry and their representation in the Neepawa area.

People have settled in the area from many parts of the Philippines, and the event was used both for participants to celebrate their regional pride and also for local citizens of other backgrounds to learn about the diversity of their Filipino neighbours.

What was originally planned as an outdoor event had to be moved indoors with only a couple of day’s notice as heavy rainfall in the area this spring meant the original location was largely underwater. Undeterred, most of the estimated 2000-plus attendees filled the arena to listen to the speakers and enjoy the food and festivities following.

Some speakers talked about the impact of the Filipino population as a whole in the area, or even more broadly across the region and country. Others spoke more intimately about the changes they have seen on the streets of town, in the schools, and in their own families. Speakers of Filipino heritage spoke about their pride and pleasure at being able to see their culture celebrated and shared in the community they now call home.

“We would like to thank you for the seeds of Filipino culture that have been planted here,” said Deputy Mayor Brian Hedley as he addressed the crowd at the Yellowhead Arena. “We look forward, as one community, to see those seeds grow and become stronger for many years to come.”