Las Vegas ‘Pinoy Pride’ fest hails Filipino heritage

The Kalahi Folkloric Ensemble captures best booth in Las Vegas Pinoy Pride fest. Facebook photo by Kalahi Folkloric Ensemble

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The colorful booth of Kalahi Folkloric Ensemble, which featured authentic Filipino costumes and musical instrument, captured the best booth overall in the three-day Pinoy Pride fest that ended Sunday. April 13 in downtown Las Vegas.

A traditional Santa Cruzan staged by the ensemble also provided the climax of the annual event that showcases Philippine culture and tradition in a city with an ever-growing Filipino-American population.

“It was great,” said Jackie Celeste, who took her two daughters to watch the cultural shows and sample the abundant Filipino food. “At least, they discover their culture and found an an appreciation of where the came from.”

The three-day affair that began Friday at the Main Street Casino parking lot drew hundreds of Filipino-Americans, even though a picket by casino worker workers, including some Filipinos, was held nearby.

The picketers distributed leaflets explaining the reasons for their mass action. Local 226, the culinary workers union, voted to strike but no date has yet been set.

On Saturday, Filipino-American musicians took the stage.

Those who performed were Elmer Abapo, Left Arm Scar, Timeline, Hope’s Edge, FishBol, Silver Plate, Theory and Blackcouch.

Special guest was San Diego native Jossa in the show dubbed Flip Rock.

Performers from Manila took the spotlight on Sunday. Actors Enrique Gil, Enchong Dee and Gerald Anderson, who call themselves Bida Boys, performed along with a local dance group, Last Minute Crew.