NJ mall filled with the spirit of Filipino Christmas

Pasko in America, the Northeast’s biggest indoor Filipino Christmas celebration, drew about 6,000 families and multicultural holiday shoppers across three levels of the American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The event, presented by Philippine Fiesta USA, Inc., transformed the mall into a vibrant Filipino Christmas village featuring Parols, performances, community organizations, and diaspora-centered holiday traditions.

The event opened with a warm welcome to attendees from across New York and New Jersey, recognizing OFW families, new immigrants, and first-generation Filipino Americans building new holiday traditions in the U.S.

A special highlight of this year’s program was the keynote message delivered by Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio, who spoke about the “growing civic and cultural impact of Filipino Americans in New Jersey.” His remarks underscored the importance of preserving cultural identity while strengthening community leadership across the region.

The highlight of the day was the Clarkstown Tinikling ensemble with their electrifying performance, a dance number on bamboo poles. Always a hit with American audiences. The group generated the highest foot traffic of the event, captivating audiences with precision footwork and cultural pride. Many attendees described the moment as “the most exciting Filipino performance” they’ve witnessed. Another standout was the Arato Brothers, whose 1980s-inspired rock ballads drew cheers from both longtime fans and first-time attendees. Their set added a nostalgic, arena-rock energy to the celebration and became one of the most talked-about musical highlights of the day.

This year’s program also featured a diverse lineup of performers, including Andrew Ace Greenspan, Aptoh Band, Bayani, Caleb Angelito, Chuck Kayvin, Cordillera Cultural Ensemble, GV Divine Divas of St. Vincent, Evangeline Pabalan, Oasis of Grace Church, Pepe and Jayjay, UP Alumni Rondalla, Zoe Erianna, and Ladies in Motion.

This year’s main exhibitor lineup featured AARP, Paysend and Astoria Hotels & Resorts. Other exhibitors were Blank Collectibles, Bayani Comics, Flower Blooms NJ, Global Cargo, Gretz Jewelry, Helping Stars Foundation, The Rafaella Foundation, UNIFFIED, and Zoe Erianna. GMA Pinoy TV served as its media partner.

Fernando “Nanding” Mendez, producer of three major Filipino American events under Philippine Fiesta USA, Inc., also addressed the crowd, emphasizing the “importance of cultural preservation and community building in the diaspora.”

“Pasko in America continues to offer thousands of Filipino families—many unable to travel home for the holidays—a place to gather, reconnect, and experience the traditions of a Filipino Christmas,” he said.

Mendez also announced its upcoming major events:

• The 22nd People’s Ball (Est. 2004), scheduled on August 9, 2026 at Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott, stands as the tri-state area’s premier Filipino-American social networking event. Through its annual Empowerment Awards, it has honored over 140 distinguished Filipino Americans for their field contributions.
• The 29th Fiesta in America EXPO (Est. 1996), scheduled on August 15–16, 2026 at American Dream, is the East Coast’s largest Filipino American indoor gathering, attracting 13,000 attendees and 120,000 in foot traffic.

For the 29th Fiesta in America EXPO, exhibitors and sponsors are encouraged to reserve their space early to secure prime booth locations, maximize visibility through multi-channel promotion, and for those from the Philippines, obtain the necessary documentation for U.S. visa applications with greater lead time. These events serve as high-impact opportunities for Philippine provinces, cities, and companies to showcase tourism, investment programs, products, and services to a highly engaged, high-income market.

For more information, call Fiesta in America at (212) 682-6610, email at info@fiestainamerica.com or visit https://www.philippinefiestausa.com