Thousands of people came out for the Philippine Fiesta in America on Aug. 20 and 21 held at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus. In its 13th year, the event celebrated cultural heritage and diversity by featuring non-stop entertainment with dancers, singers, fashion shows, and Filipino celebrities. People also enjoyed an array of island food and drink from traditional sweet beverages like Halo, Halo to Filipino BBQ.
A taste of home-cooking
“It takes a lot of cooks,” said Susan Agbanlog, who has overseen food production for the event the past two years. She said the fiesta prepares 50 trays per dish per booth and has more than 80 entrees on the menu, plus appetizers and snacks served over two days in order to feed tens of thousands of people.
“This is all homemade. It is not commercial,” she added.
Lots of BBQ
A walk down one side of the expo center revealed trays filled with dishes like Pancit, or thin, rice noodles with pork, celery, and carrot. Meat-eaters had plenty of options to choose from such as the popular Philippine BBQ’d sausage, thin strips of sautéed beef, or cubes of pork on skewers. Folks enjoyed white rice and lumpia’s, or fried spring rolls. Those seeking comfort food found traditional kare-kare, a Philippine stew cooked in peanut sauce with oxtail, various meats, and vegetables.
Flavorful shakes
“Halo, halo,” said Shawn De Los Santos, 13, from Lyndhurst. He hadn’t discovered a new way to say hello but instead described his favorite shake, a sweet concoction that includes jack fruit, gelatin, beans, pineapple, coconut, flan, sugar, and evaporated milk. The drink serves as a dessert snack.
Camille De Los Reyes, 18, from Jersey City, enjoyed an ube shake, made from a purple powder that tastes like a sweet yam.
Baked goodness
Vendor Bella Bigol, owner of Berkeley Bakery, in Highland Park had a large selection of baked breads and goods such as Langka pie made from jack fruit, Hopia Baboy – a popular Phillipine bean pastry – and Pan de Coco, among many others.
“Filipinos love sweet! We are very sweet people,” said Jeffrey Yando, 25, from Roselle.
Adriana Rambay Fernández may be reached at afernandez@hudsonreporter.com.