Philippines festival leaves a sweet taste

At the Filipino Festival food market at the Arts Village was Althea (left) and Eunice Obuyes from Rotorua. Photo / Andrew Warner

Filipinos throughout New Zealand have celebrated their culture at the Pistang Pilipino festival in Rotorua.

Philippine Club of Rotorua secretary Susana So said the three-day festival attracted close to 4500 people who took part in the sporting and cultural events at various venues in the city.

"This time of year, Filipinos look at it as a reunion," Miss So said.

"It's about being around with friends, meeting up with old acquaintances. It's also about being around the food, culture and language. The festival is like the Philippines inside New Zealand."

A Miss Philippine-New Zealand beauty pageant, traditional dancing and a thanksgiving concert was held on Saturday and last night at the Civic Theatre in the Rotorua Convention Centre.

A Filipino food market at The Arts Village showcased many traditional delicacies such as sweetened banana and kumara which Althea Obuyes was helping to sell. "It's been really fun meeting other Filipinos here and talking to people, I will definitely be back next year," she said.

Miss So said the Philippine Club was pleased to have had the chance to host the event and to have the support from previous hosts the Bay of Plenty Philippine Friendship Society.

"We're really pleased we were able to pull this together and have seen the strength in unity," she said.

Among the guests included Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand, Virginia Benavidez, Federation of Filipino Clubs and Societies national president Tony Noblejas and Rotorua MP Todd McClay.

Miss So said it was an added bonus the ambassador brought to Rotorua the mobile consulate services so visiting Filipinos were able to renew their passports as well as enjoy the festival.