Biba Pasifika; about the Pacific Islander Festival, San Diego 2011

 

 

 

The Pacific Islander Festival Association (PIFA) celebrated their 17th

annual festival at Ski Beach Park on Mission Bay in San Diego on

September 24 & 25, 2011.

 

 

 

Estimated attendance at this festival is about 100,000.  Chamorros made

up a significant percentage of this number.  The park is probably three

times as big as Ypao Park, with an outer ring of canopy booths on two

sides, food booths along the third side.

An inner row of island traditional crafts display booths from the various

islands was situated near the stage.

 

The Chamorro Foundation Booth was

large, well-organized, and contained many displays of implements,

clothing, an ancient latte house model, coconut utensils, etc.

 

 

 

 

Our CHELU 47-foot Sakman was on prominent display at the beach!

Mario Borja and his crew had sailed it there.

 

 

 

 

Guam representation in the information booths included the Guam

Communication Network (GCN) represented in three canopies and

my batik demonstration booth.

 

 

Sales booths representing Guam included a Chamorro

Jewelry booth, the Guam Batik Gallery sales booth run by my daughter

Sandy Uslander and shared with Island Registry (stickers, flags, etc) and

Chamorro authors Tanya and Alison Taimanglo, Kutturan Chamorro

(jewelry, T-Shirts, etc), and at least two more Guam T-shirt booths.

 

Guam was well-represented in the food booths, with at least 3 Guam

Food concessions.  They all had very long lines as mahalang

Chamorros lined up for red rice, kelaguin, barbeque and

other Chamorro delicacies.  The chicken kelaguin and red rice combo was

really good!

 

Extended families of islanders grouped together under trees throughout the park,

enjoying the music and food.

 

Guam was represented by two performing groups – Kutturan Chamorro from

Long Beach and Imahin Taotaotano’ from San Diego.  They both are

associated with Pa’a Taotaotano’ and performed the ancient period dances

that have become familiar at home.

 

 

Guam is well-represented at this festival.  Rick Perez from Governor

Calvo’s Washington Liaison Office attended and visited all the Guam

booths.   In my opinion this fair is a wonderful place for Chamorros to

get together and socialize.  I met former students, long-lost classmates,

and old friends besides making new friends.

 

This festival was an islander showcase for the various islander

communities in San Diego and Southern California.  Biba Pasifika!