Canada ethnic fest in Brampton showcases PH art and culture

Pabitin signaled the start of the Philippine presentation at CaraBram 2015 festival. PHOTOS BY MARISA ROQUE

BRAMPTON, Ontario — One of Canada’s longest-running cultural festivals, Carabram 2015, showcased Philippine arts and culture in a big way during its three-day run from July 10 to 12.

Pavilions featuring the cultures of various ethnicities that live in Brampton, a suburban city in the Greater Toronto Area, provide the drawing card for the three-day event.  A free shuttle for festival-goers links the pavilions, so they can sample the offerings of all exhibitors.

Miss Manila 2015 Clarise Capunitan graced the Philippine pavilion.

This year, there were three venues — South Fletchers Sportsplex that housed South Asia, Hawaii and Macedonia; Brampton Soccer Center that had Eelam, the Caribbean and Africa as exhibitors; Century Gardens Recreation Center at 340 Vodden Street East in Brampton, which the Philippines shared with Ireland and Portugal.

Filipino Canadian beauty queens, including Miss Manila 2015 Clarise Capunitan, welcomed guests to the presentation.

The Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada and the Federation of Filipino Canadians of Brampton called their presentation “Light and Lantern Festival of the Philippines.”  The audience enjoyed the color, rhythms and pageantry of Philippine dances from different regions and different historical eras.

Display at the Philippine Pavilion.

Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe was founded in 1966 by Estrellita Madrona Aguinaldo, and the dancers and support team encompass several generations of avid participants–the troupe even has its own band of musicians who can play anything from bandurias, guitars, kulintang and gamelan to suit the dances they perform.

Josie Consunji chaired the Philippine contingent with Delfin Palileo and Odette Aguinaldo as co-chairs.  Visitors to the pavilion enjoyed Filipino cuisine and arts and crafts during the three-day event.

“Dugso,” a Manobo tribal dance.

“For over 30 years, Carabram has provided a powerful platform for our diverse community,” says Angela Johnson, president of Carabram. “Carabram has always been about bringing cultures together from across all boundaries, in peace, harmony and respect for all,” she adds.

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