Kalayaan 2018 in San Francisco

Happy Philippine Independence Month!

I like June because 1) it is the month when summer arrives and 2) it's Kalayaan. This month is special because it is the 120th Year of Independence from Spain. Truly, and important and monumental time in Philippine history.

I was fortunate to have been a part of the Kalayaan SF Committee this year and we hold two events annually. The first is the Kalayaan Gala where everyone comes to the special venue in their Filipiniana and we eat and dance the night away. Right: me and my FYLPRO brothers Donny, JR & Lakhi.

Our Traditional Teleserye Photo

For the Gala Reception, I assisted with the food and beverage portion in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General team. I was lucky enough to be able to eat majority of the wonderful dishes, such as lechon and garlic noodles! Our Filipino food community is so amazing. Some people rolled out of the venue because they were so full.

Courtesy of Kalayaan SF

The second event of Kalayaan SF is the outdoor festival which is held at Union Square in Downtown San Francisco. Every year, I assist with crowd control. Essentially, I am the bouncer for the stage during the special entertainment hour produced by TFC. Let's just say it is definitely a learning experience every year. You would be surprised how many people try to sneak into the stage area. It's so funny.

Check out pictures from Kalayaan on my Instagram: @JBKollaborations

Kalayaan SF Committee 2018

I enjoy participating in these types of events because it really does keep in my touch with my Filipino roots. Looking forward to next year! Mabuhay! Happy Philippine Independence Month!
xoxo,
Jo