Post wishes to report that it participated in the Fiesta Filipino 2017 cultural festival held from 1-3 September 2017 at the Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary that featured the Philippine Tapestry Fashion Show highlighting the creations of premier Filipino couturier Renée Salud.  The Philippine Tapestry show in Calgary was the last leg of the show’s Canadian tour, which was sponsored by the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

Fiesta Filipino 2017

Fiesta Filipino is an annual cultural event held every September in Calgary and is organized by the Philippine Festival Council of Alberta (PFCA). This year’s festival marks the third anniversary of the Fiesta Filipino, which has been recognized by the City of Calgary as one of the city’s major cultural festivals.

Post’s  representatives distributed Philippine tourism materials to the festival attendees, entertaining queries on the forthcoming Winter Escapade 5 tour and general information on consular services.  Other attractions at the festival included food trucks selling Filipino delicacies, booths of various service providers such as financial institutions, remittance companies and immigration consultants, and a children’s zone.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley also addressed the large crowd at the festival on 2 September 2017, highlighting its importance as a major cultural festival in the city.  She acknowledged the importance of the Filipino communities in Alberta and their contributions to the province’s progress.  After she spoke, she, along with Alberta Minister for Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda, visited the different booths, including the Philippine Cultural Pavilion where she was welcomed by the undersigned.

Philippine Tapestry Fashion Show

The Philippine Tapestry Fashion Show showcasing the creations of Renée Salud using indigenous Filipino fabrics was the highlight of the Fiesta Filipino festival.  The Calgary show, which also featured dance performances by the Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild, was held in the evening of 2 September 2017 at the Olympic Plaza and was co-sponsored by the PFCA, the Consulate General, the Department of Tourism though its San Francisco office, and the TPB.

The undersigned personally welcomed Mr. Salud, his models and the Sindaw troupe upon their arrival in Calgary on 31 August 2017.  He also welcomed DOT and TPB officials, namely Ms. Purificacion Morales, Tourism Attaché, DOT San Francisco; Ms. Susan Del Mundo, Officer-in-Charge, Domestic Promotions Department, TPB; and Ms. Nedalin Miranda, Head for Marketing Promotions, TPB, who arrived in Calgary on 1 September 2017.

The very large audience was captivated by Mr. Salud’s creations as well as the dance performances by the Sindaw troupe.  For nearly an hour, the audience was thrilled to witness Mr. Salud’s creativity in using indigenous Filipino fabrics in modern wear, juxtaposed with the dance performances of the Sindaw troupe.  A rousing rendition of the Philippine national anthem closed the fashion show, which earned enthusiastic applause from the audience.

At the meet-and-greet cocktails which followed the fashion show, many of the attendees congratulated Mr. Salud and the show’s sponsors and organizers for a successful show in Calgary.

A draft press release on the event is attached for uploading onto the Department’s website.

JULIUS D. TORRES

Consul General