The last event of summer in ABS-CBN North America’s “TFC Sama Saya” series — the recently held 24th Pistahan Parade & Festival organized by the Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) — received strong support not only from Filipino American media but from mainstream American media in the Bay Area.
KQED wittily called it a welcome “dose of Filipino culture… a soiree of Filipino food, art, and music at the Yerba Buena Gardens” where the “marvelous aroma of adobo and lechon” draw people away from “the smell of coffee, weed, and other things in San Francisco.” The Bay Area Reporter called the event as “entertaining as it is meaningful.” NBC Bay Area’s “Asian Pacific America with Robert Handa” featured FAAE President Al Perez who said that Pistahan has been successful because it is “a way to reconnect with Filipino roots, a place to meet new friends, reunite with old friends, enjoy the best of Philippine entertainment and experience Filipino arts, culture and food.”
ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC), which has partnered with FAAE for over two decades, presents scenes from this year’s unforgettable Pistahan with photographs from Maile Llaneza, Moselle Cabral, Mimi Dayo, Jho Bule of FilAm Star and Nerissa Fernandez.
The crowd that gathered at the TFC Hour on the second day of Pistahan Parade & Festival in San Francisco
The TFC Contingent getting ready for the Pistahan Parade, one of only two annual Filipino parades in the streets of San Francisco.
Sam Milby reaches out to fans from the TFC float for a series of selfies during the parade.
The TFC Booths offered an array of products and services to attendees of the event that connect them back to the homeland.
This year’s Pistahan Hermano and Hermana Mayor – Philippine San Francisco Deputy Consul General Jaimon Ascalon and wife Cecile with son Andre Luis – share a photo op with TFC Hour performing artists Iñigo Pascual and Sam Milby.
Iñigo Pascual and Sam Milby pose for photos with fans from various generations during the TFC Meet and Greet
John Tan and Prashanth Santhanam of TFC.tv shared the many benefits of the new TFC digital experience online, on mobile and on smart TVs.
ABS-CBN Foundation International Managing Director Jerry Bennett spoke about “Gusto Kong Mag-aral” (I Want to Go to School) under Operation Sagip which aims to bring back children to schools in Marawi City, Philippines by raising funds to rebuild classrooms destroyed by the ongoing battle between the military and terrorists and provide basic school supplies to students. With him are ABS-CBN Foundation International Operations Manager Alma Magsombol, and TFC Hour hosts Ginger Conejero of ANC, BA and Adobo Nation and comedienne Poca.
Iñigo Pascual drew the young crowd and generated lots of shrieks and fun with the Mobe Dance Challenge.
A fan reached out to Iñigo Pascual during his performance at the TFC Hour to give him his favorite snack
It’s a selfie world: fans volunteer their cell phones so Iñigo Pascual can do a selfie with them.
Sam Milby continues to solidify his Rockoustic King title with a strong performance at Pistahan.
Die-hard fans of Sam Milby try to break through the security phalanx. Sam chuckled as one fan got hold of one of the long-stemmed roses he wanted to distribute.
FAAE officers John Espiritu, Gerard Talampas and Al Perez award Iñigo Pascual and Sam Milby with Certificates of Honor for their involvement in Pistahan.
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