July 28-29, 2018
Albeit the threat of an incoming storm and its aftermath, the two-day Phil Fiesta Tokai 2018 at the Nagoya Central Park was well supported by many of our fellow kababayans, as well as our Japanese, Brazilian, and Turkish friends. The arrival of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V, commenced the event and was followed by the opening of the different booths in the festival. Although his visit was brief because of the weather situation, this is among the many firsts that happened in this event as it has been the only time an ambassador graced a Philippine festival in the last sixty (60) years. This is also the very first time a Philippine festival was celebrated for two (2) days.
On the first day, the festivities had to come to a halt when the advisory from the city government ordered the cancellation of the event by 3:00 PM due to adverse weather conditions. But as the second day of the festival rolled in, it definitely made up for the lost time the day before. Everyone who came to the event was treated to entertainment from independent and budding Filipino artists, as well as visits from both Japanese and Filipino celebrities including Japanese professional basketball star Morikawa Masaaki, Japanese comedian Yuki of HPN 3, broadcast journalist, Aljo Bendijo, “Orient Pearl” front man, Naldy Padilla, and Philippine box-office “idol”, Mr. Robin Padilla. Everyone did not mind the heat or even the occasional downpour as they patiently stayed and enjoyed watching musical numbers and comedy skits while eating sumptuous treats from more than ten (15) food concessionaires with a variety of Filipino, Japanese, Mexican, Brazilian and Turkish dishes.
The Phil Fiesta Tokai 2018 was organized by MCom and Aichi TV Planning and was sponsored by KDDI (au mobile carrier).
By: K.O. Micairan
Photo: Alex Santos, Paula Kondo, Juliane Shibata
Videographer: Revonn Aguilar Cadsawan
