First ever Filipino winter fun festival

The local Filipino community came out to enjoy a day of food and entertainment in Tauranga over the weekend.

The first ever Winter Fun Festival, organised by Club Filipino and held at Otumoetai Baptist Church on Saturday, boasted not only national food from the Philippines but international cuisine from Japanese or Indonesian and bacon butties for the less adventurous.

By far the most popular on the menu was the lechon - a roasted suckling pig. It was decimated by the crowds in less than an hour.

Other food stalls had interesting national cuisine like suman (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves), laing (taro leaves), coconut milk and pork and hopia (a bean filled pastry).

Entertainment included an Igorot dance, Indian dancing and belly dancing.

Club president Irene Naballin said money raised would go towards the club, which promoted and enriched Filipino culture in Tauranga.