Seattle Center Festál: PAGDIRIWANG PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL Offers Fun, Food and Festivity

Seattle Center Festál: Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4, in Seattle Center Armory and Mural Amphitheatre, celebrates Filipino Independence. The festival theme this year, Philippines: Land of Food and Festivals, is expressed extensively throughout the two days of the celebration through arts, artifacts, photography and film as well as traditional foods for purchase.

Pagdiriwang Festival has evolved and expanded over the decades. When it began in 1987, the festival focused on traditional songs and dances. Thirty-one years later, it presents fashion, martial arts demonstrations, cultural games, craft activities and contemporary music, art and literature.

Several ethnic dance ensembles representing Filipino organizations across the state will perform: Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State, University of Washington's Filipino American Students Association, St. Matthew's School children's dance group, Filipino American Civic Employees of Seattle (FACES), AJAE Dance Group and Kalahi Dance Company. Mural Amphitheatre features a line-up of Filipino American rock bands including: Chemistrange, Halo-Halo band, Rigor Coloma, Ihaw-Ihaw Project, The Barriotiques, Cynthia Alexander, Strong Sun Moon and more.

Festival-goers will also find a Filipinas fashion show presented by Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State and a festival of short films collected by Adrian Alarilla. Art exhibits feature pieces by six visiting Philippine artists, and photography exhibits showcase works by Leia Maminta-Smith, John Paredes, Iris Dumuk and Ken Daffon.

Las Vegas artist Lane Wilcken will explain the traditional art of hand-tapped tattooing. Rhode Island musician Annie Lynn Pucking demonstrates use of various indigenous bamboo instruments, and Seattle local Titania Buckholdt shows how to wear a Malong or Sarong. There also will be a back-strap weaving demonstration, drama workshop and interactive dances.

The Festival marketplace houses vendors selling indigenous hand-woven backpacks, traditional Filipino Malongs, tribal accessories and garments, formal wear called Barong Tagalog made of Jusi cloth or pineapple fabric and Philippine artifacts. Food-for-purchase includes lumpia, broiled chicken, pork and chicken barbecues, Pancit (Filipino noodles), halo-halo (Filipino dessert with shaved ice) and various sticky rice desserts.

In 2017, Seattle Center Festál celebrates 20 years of global music, dance, art, crafts, history, food and insight presented through a unique partnership among community organizations and Seattle Center. Festál provides a stage and platform for them to share their traditions, accomplishments and artistic expression. Festál events captivate and enlighten festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that shape the character and course of our broader community.

Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, visit www.festalpagdiriwang.com, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.

This illuminating series of 24 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Wells Fargo, The Boeing Company, NW Folklife, 4Culture and ArtsWA. Additional support is provided by the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

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