Pista Sa Nayon

“Pista sa Nayon” translates to “Fiesta in the Village” refers to a local festival or celebration held in a community or village often featuring various activities, food, and cultural performances. These fiestas are significant in Filipino culture, celebrating patron saints, harvests, or other important events.

Over the weekend, I attended Monterey Pista sa Nayon hosted by the Filipino Community Organization of the Monterey Peninsula at the Monterey Moose Lodge to support my friend, Mary Jane and her dance troupe, the Sampaguita Dancers of St. Jude perform and the young talented singer, Janae.

The Sampaguita dancers performed 3 traditional Filipino folk dances. The “pandanggo sa ilaw” (or candle dance) is a timeless dance thought to have originated from Mindoro. This dance of lights simulated fireflies dancing in the warm evening.

“Itik” is a folk dance with short, choppy steps created by mimicking the movements of ducks wading and flying among rice paddies and swamplands. It was thought to have originated from Surigao del Sur.

Tinikling is considered by many as the national dance of the Philippines. It originated prior to Spanish colonialism in Leyte. The dance involves at least two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. The name “tinikling” is a reference to “tikliing” birds (any of the rail species). The term tinikling literally means to perform like a tikling.

Monterey Chef Robert Lopez (in the center) created a scrumptious Filipino buffet feast! It was a night of dancing, catching up with family, friends and taking silly pictures at the photo booth. A night full of great nostalgia.