MORE than 200 members of Jersey’s Filipino community gathered on Sunday for the Island’s first Barrio Fiesta – a ‘neighbourhood celebration’ of the country’s culture.
The Jersey Barrio Fiesta kicked off with a procession along the promenade by La Frégate and ending at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, where celebrations continued throughout the afternoon.
The event included a buffet of Filipino food such as chicken adobo, crispy belly pork kare-kare and spring rolls, as well as live music, dancing and games, which were enjoyed by attendees of all ages.
Event organiser Liza Cardwell – who moved to Jersey from the Philippines five years ago – said that she was ‘extremely pleased and very excited’ by the large turnout and described the Island’s first Barrio Fiesta as a ‘great opportunity to share culture, dress, food and music’.
Although this year’s was a ticket-only event for the Filipino community and their families, the organisers hope to open it to the wider public next year, as happens with the Portuguese food festival.
With the local Filipino population now at around 1,000, Mrs Cardwell said that it was important to raise the profile of a community which was becoming a significant part of Jersey’s workforce.
It seems that this year’s Barrio Fiesta has already gone some way in doing so, with many passers-by stopping to wave and ask questions about what was going on. Mrs Cardwell’s husband, Jerseyman Ian Cardwell – who also helped to organise the event – described it as an ‘amazing success’.
He continued: ‘There were so many talented people entertaining so many people. An electric atmosphere enjoyed by very young and old.
‘The parade was loved by participants and spectators and we are now starting to plan for a bigger and better fiesta next year.’
Mr Cardwell added that ‘it wouldn’t be a great event if it wasn’t for the hard work put in by the organisers’ and thanked his wife as well as Dina Rouse, Josefine Reynolds, Rina Aaron, Millie Falle, Peach Nulud, Malen Ferrer, Gemma Green and Dave Gerali.
He also praised the generosity of event sponsors Megaworld, LBC, Alvin’s Hot Stuff Pizza, Rich City Enterprises, Treasure Cove and S&R.
