Lasang Pinoy 19 Announcement

When it comes to throwing a party, the best time of year to have one is in the summer. The reasons for this are obvious (school’s out, great weather), and you know the summer season has begun when you get the call for the first big party. I might be a little biased, but when it comes to throwing parties, Filipinos are all over it. And the cornerstone of our partying pursuits? The barrio fiesta… or fiesta for short.

What is Barrio Fiesta?

The straight translation is a neighborhood party. And almost always, you will find this to be the case. In the Philippines, residential areas are broken down into barangays and represented by a patron saint (pls. correct me if I’m wrong on this). The residents come together to celebrate on their saint’s day, as well as other events, such as birthdays, weddings, etc.

Outside of the Philippines, Barrio Fiesta is more than coming together and having a good time. It becomes a glimpse into Filipino culture for the non-Filipino community. In the “show” portion of the fiesta, children and adults sing traditional songs and perform regional dances.

Whether in the Philippines or elsewhere, Barrio Fiesta is a time when people come together to celebrate. These celebrations can be found in a variety of forms, but whatever the theme, whatever the reason- a fiesta is not a fiesta if it does not include some great food.

With this in mind, I am honored to host the Lasang Pinoy event for the month of July. And the theme for this month? Why fiestas, of course! And since this is a food blogging event, let’s share some of our favorite fiesta dishes… and some memories as well. Was your Lola known for her kare-kare? Do you have memories of helping the Titos turn the lechon? Then write about it! If you’re stuck, here are some questions that may help:

What are some specific food staples at every fiesta?

What are some of the traditions associated with fiestas?

(For those participants outside of the Philippines)
How are fiestas celebrated in your area?

Are fiestas more along the lines of bringing ex-pats together, or do you use the event to educate the community?

Fiesta pictures are cool, and recipes are always welcome.

What is Lasang Pinoy?

Lasang Pinoy is a monthly food blogging event which aims to promote Filipino culture (and its food) out in the blogosphere.

Who should participate?

You! If you are a Filipino blogger, or one of Filipino descent… I strongly emphasize YOU.

For non-bloggers: participate if you can, but you will need to find someone to host your entry.

For those of you who are not Filipino/ Filipino descent, but have lots of friends who are (or married to a Filipino/a, lived in the Philippines, etc.), you are welcome to join, as long as you keep with the theme. As much as this event is to promote Filipino culture, it would be wrong of us to overlook the experiences and impressions from those on the outside.

Please use the icon above for your entry (thanks mikemina for making it!)

When is this due?

All entries must be submitted no later than MIDNIGHT (EST) on JULY 7, 2007. This means you have three weeks to get your fiesta on! A round up will be posted shortly after.

Have a question? Where to send your entry?

You can send your questions and entries to LASANG.PINOY@GMAIL.COM. To guarantee that your e-mail is not ignored, in the subject heading, put "Lasang Pinoy 19 question/entry". Or even better, leave a comment on this post and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading, and I’m looking forward to your entries!