FAFI cultural festival boasts top performers and a fashion show

Founder and Chairperson Ludi Hughes. Facebook photo.

The Filipino American Festival, Inc. (FAFI)will hold a cultural festival on September 1 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Overpeck Bergen County Park at 199 Challenger Road, Ridgefield, N.J. 

Ludi Hughes, the founder and chairwoman, said  this is FAFI’s seventh year and promises to be a “one of a kind” celebration.

“Our headliners are mostly YouTube sensations and will give the audience extraordinary performances,” she said in a statement.

In the lineup of are: Joel Mondina better known as Pambansang Kolokoy, one of the most-watched vloggers with 1.3 million followers on Facebook; hip hop artist in the Golden Era named HBom known for hit songs like “Babaeng Misteryosa” and “Mr. Disco;”  singer, actress, and songwriter Julianne Aurora Manalo, known as Jules Aurora, who sang Ella Fitzgerald “Cry Me a River” at the American Idol show; and Broadway Barkada, Filipino performers who have professional credits in the performing arts on Broadway. The five members of Broadway Barkada who will perform  are Catherine Gloria, Carol Angeli, Audrey Dalio, Eric Dalizaga and Roy Flores. The Arato Brothers who just became the WCOPA’s Jr. Grand Champion Vocal Group of the World, and Cristiani Rebada, WCOPA Grand Champion, will also be performing.  

Cristiani Rebada, Tracy Dizon
Arato Brothers, Jules Aurora

Newly crowned Miss Young Philippines 2019 Amanda Russo will have an appearance.

A special runway show  featuring designs by Tracy Dizon will be another FAFI attraction. Dizon is known for her modern Filipiniana dresses that appeal  to younger FilAms.  She has participated in Brooklyn Fashion Week and aims to  put her vision of Philippine women’s wear on the global map.

FAFI was founded and registered on August 20, 2010 in New Jersey as a non-profit organization that wants to promote the “integration and unification of Filipino Americans and to celebrate our rich ancestral diversity,” said Hughes. The annual cultural heritage event brings together business and philanthropic leaders in the Filipino community.

“As a founder, I gathered a group of Filipino businesses and leaders and started a festival to help starting artists to have a venue to perform. It is also to put together these business owners to give back to the community where they are mostly having business with,” she said.

Another objective, according to Hughes is to “educate our next generation of Filipino Americans in the long tradition of community partnership.”

FAFI’s board members include Rowena Aquino, Jessica Herb, Cristy Gania, Mert Lezaron, Madeline Bansil and Abe Aquino. Please call us at 201-841-3070 or email filipinoamericanfestival@gmail.com for those interested in getting booths for the festival.  



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