31st celebration of Filipino art and culture coming to San Pedro next week

“Kapit-Bisig” translates to “arm-in-arm,” or unity and strength in community.

That’s the theme for this year’s Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), back for its 31st year.

“This is a labor of love for the community and our culture,” Giselle Töngi-Walters said as the executive director of FilAm Arts, the nonprofit organization that organizes the festival.

A preview night for FPAC held Tuesday, Sept. 2, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown provided a sneak peak of the festival to come: food, music and performances from community artists and dance groups.

FPAC, Southern California’s longest-running Filipino cultural festival, was first conceptualized in 1990 as part of the L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs festivals program designed to address the city’s diversity.

Two years later, the first FPAC took place at Los Angeles City College on Mother’s Day, 1992, where 3,000 participants attended in the wake of the L.A. riots that occurred just a week prior.

The festival moved to Cabrillo Beach in 1994, then to Pt. Fermin Park in 2001 and to Echo park in 2017.

A festival born out of the L.A. riots and a “desire” for community, Töngi-Walters said, is needed now “more than ever.”

“In this time, this is what we need to do with all community members, to share our culture, our art,” she said.

The official festival will be held next weekend in Point Fermin Park in San Pedro on Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The lineup will include performances by Dalisay Dance Company, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, Tobey Lynn and more. This year’s festival will also include the first-ever “FurPAC Pawshion Show,” a dog fashion show and fundraiser.

To register free and for more information, visit filamarts-fpac.org.