It was all fun and games at Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association’s (SEMFA) first ever Palarong Pinoy Saturday.
“It’s an event where we gather the whole Filipino community to play Filipino games,” said SEMFA president Joana Bersamina.
She explained that it was a chance to not only relive some of their favourite childhood games from the Philippines, but also a chance to teach it to a new generation while enjoying Filipino food and music.
Lexi Ontong playing at the Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association’s first Palarong Pinoy held at the Pat Porter Centre May 18.
Many of those games will be familiar to other cultures: tug of war and piñata – something brought by the Spanish during the time of colonization – were part of the fun.
SEMFA was founded in Steinbach 16 years ago as a way to bring the 5,000 or so Southeast Filipino residents together and share their culture with everyone.
“We call each other kababayan. It’s kind of a fellow individual who came from the same country,” said Bersamina.
She shared why it was important especially for newcomers to Canada and southeastern Manitoba. Many move to Manitoba ahead of the rest of their families.
“We know when you are a newcomer, it could be very, very lonely. And SEMFA is here to welcome you.”
President Joana Bersamina of Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association at its first Palarong Pinoy held at the Pat Porter Centre May 18.
SEMFA helps connect those newcomers who may not know where to go when they need help with everything from taxes to finding a job or a friend, with other groups like Eastman Immigrant Services or church groups.
“Bridinging them to what they need for them to live their best life,” said Bersamina.
The current team of SEMFA officers started at the beginning of this year, and have plenty of plans to keep busy.
“We’re planning to have an event in the summer, basically a newcomer day,” said Bersamina.
SEMFA will also be at Summer in the City June 14-16.
Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association’s first Palarong Pinoy held at the Pat Porter Centre May 18.
“And we hope to have a music fest where people can attend and just enjoy Filipino music,” added Bersamina.
There is also a big holiday party on Dec. 7 that fills the Pat Porter Centre to the point where latecomers had to be turned away last year. That is why SEMFA looks forward to having a larger venue in Steinbach.
“I think we can fill the (Southeast) Event Centre and have 1,000 people,” said Bersamina.
Most of the members of SEMFA are from Steinbach, but Bersamina said she plans on bringing in more from other Manitoba towns south of Winnipeg.
“We just want to kind of bridge that gap. We understand that while we’re all Filipinos, we’re also part of the friend community groups, so we want to bring everyone together and connect our community to the larger community because here in Manitoba we’re not only Filipinos. While we’re one of the top in terms of population, there’s also other cultures that we want to tour,” said Bersamina.
Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association’s first Palarong Pinoy held at the Pat Porter Centre May 18.
Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association’s first Palarong Pinoy held at the Pat Porter Centre May 18.
A game of patintero saw the adults get their chance to join in the fun at Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association’s first Palarong Pinoy held at the Pat Porter Centre May 18.
Lexi Ontong playing at the Southeast Manitoba Filipino Association’s first Palarong Pinoy held at the Pat Porter Centre May 18.
