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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – It was quite a long Independence Day celebration for Filipinos in Malaysia, with several events organized to bring the Filipino community together and commemorate the birth of our nation – while taking a break from their busy work schedules and having a bit of fun.
The Philippine Independence Day parade, held on June 7, came back bigger and better for its 4th year. More Filipino community members participated in the event, donning colorful and creative costumes to showcase in the streets of downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J Eduardo Malaya said that the parade just keeps getting bigger every year since it started in 2011. “Members of the Filipino community find joy in showcasing their culture as much as Malaysians and expatriates in KL love to watch the parade every year,” he added.
The ambassador also takes pride in how all Filipino organizations in Malaysia work together seamlessly to help the embassy organize such events. After the establishment of the Federation of Filipino Associations in Malaysia (FFAM), the umbrella organization of all Filipino community groups in Malaysia, he thinks that Filipinos in the country are more united than ever.
A free concert featuring Filipino singers Vina Morales and Erik Santos was also held on the last day of May to usher in the independence month.
The Othman Merican Education Development Berhad and members of the Filipino community all helped in mounting the event and getting ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) on board to bring the performers to Kuala Lumpur.
Dina Relloso, a Filipina household service worker spent her only day off that week at the event, saying that meeting some of her kababayan and enjoying live entertainment from her home country was worth the hour-long commute from Kuala Lumpur’s suburbs to the concert venue.
“Dapat po bukas pa ang day-off ko, pero nag-request po talaga ako sa amo ko na ngayon ako mag day off para makita ko sila Vina at makapag-saya din ako kasama ang aking mga kaibigan na Filipina. Nakaka-miss iyong mga ganitong get-together sa atin. Parang nasa ‘Pinas ako ulit,” she exclaimed in Filipino.
(My day off is scheduled for tomorrow but I requested for it to be moved today so I can see Vina live and so that I can have fun with my Filipino friends. I miss events like these back home and it makes me feel that I’m back in the Philippines.)
On June 12, the embassy hosted a reception that left guests from the Malaysian government and the diplomatic corps in awe.
Members of the Filipino community, officials and staff of the Philippine Embassy, and some of their family members walked on a runway to showcase Filipino designer Joel Bautista’s latest collection of modern Filipiniana clothes. Malaysia-based Filipino designer Gina Frias provided the accessories.
“This is the first time an embassy did this for their National Day reception here in Malaysia, using real people as models. We like to bring something different to the table. We often have one aspect of Filipino culture to showcase annually and for this year, it’s fashion,” Malaya said.
Bautista, who’s had a long-running love affair with the classic terno impressed the audience with his modern and unique style. He is a firm believer that Filipiniana – not just the terno and the classic “Maria Clara” but our tribes’ traditional fabrics as well – have a place in the world stage.
He also advocated having “real Filipinos” wear the Filipiniana for his fashion show in Malaysia to show how modern Filipinos carry the clothes.
“The reality of how a dress or how a particular individual is able to carry it on his or her own was shown. These are real people,” Bautista added.
Veteran fashion show director Raymond Villanueva conceptualized the show, saying that he is inspired by the true beauty of Filipinos and the Philippines as a country. Villanueva also trained the participants a few days before the show, giving pointers and teaching everyone how to model Filipiniana down the runway.
A Filipino party is never complete without music and despite fashion taking center stage this year, Filipino musicians from Manila and KL also got together for a night of fun and showcasing talent.
On June 11, a casual ‘jamming session’ was held at the embassy so that the musicians can build their networks.
The embassy’s musically-inclined officials – Ambassador Malaya and Minister and Counsellor Maria Antonina Oblena – also joined in, showcasing their skills on the piano and the flute, respectively.
Oblena, along with the musicians from Manila, Roberto Tarang , Liza Tarang, and Marius Villaroman also performed during the reception on June 12.
Malaysian Minister and Senator Datuk Paul Low Kuan Seng who was the reception’s guest of honor, lauded the musicians and models for the night. – Rappler.com
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