“We Have So Many Filipino Stories to Share”: Inside the 4th Annual Filipino Forces Feast and Fiesta in Los Angeles

On an uncharacteristically brisk Los Angeles evening, a crowd gathered to celebrate the 4th annual Filipino Forces Feast and Fiesta, recognizing Filipino American excellence across entertainment, media, music, philanthropy, and finance. While threats of rain came through in an intermittent drizzle, the familiar warmth of Filipino community, food, and conversation assuaged any anxiety that dipping temperatures could dampen the feeling of togetherness and sharing of stories.

One by one, each dinner guest stood up to introduce themselves and explain how they were looking forward to connecting and supporting their fellow Filipinos. Actress Kristin Villanueva, writer and director of Forgotten Island Januel Mercado, actor Timothy Granaderos, singer J. Rey Soul, actress Paris Berelc, fashion designer and Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Nola, actor Ross Butler, designer and winner of Project Runway Veejay Floresca, rapper P-Lo and host of E!’s Daily 10 Erin Lim Rhodes joined Filipino Forces hosts Rembrandt Flores (Filipino Forces founder), Raissa Gerona (REVOLVE Group, Inc. chief brand officer), Lena Salatinjants (senior director at Nike Celebrity + Entertainment Marketing), Marisa Pizarro (co-founder of Cousin Music), and myself, Melissa Magsaysay (journalist, and the host of the LA Times’ ‘Live + Well’ Podcast) for a four-course dinner created by Chef Josh Espinosa of Sampa LA. 

“This Filipino Forces feels especially meaningful this year, as it marks the first time we’re welcoming Philippine-born brands as official partners,” Flores said. “From Jewelmer, renowned globally for its rare, naturally golden South Sea pearls, to Sunnies Face, celebrated for its effortless, everyday beauty essentials, and Auro, the award-winning tree-to-bar chocolate brand, this year’s collaboration is a powerful reflection of Filipino creativity, craftsmanship, and global excellence taking center stage.” Nike, Revolve, and La La Land also served as sponsors; and Chris Quintos Cathcart, Steven Young, JEFRE, and Robert Stevenson-Padron supported as dinner hosts.

The support from Filipino brands puts a fine point on how a surge of Filipino American soft power, from film and television to fashion and philanthropy, is gaining critical mass in the United States, and the local community is eager to celebrate and amplify it.

Mercado’s forthcoming animated film, Forgotten Island, exemplifies this cultural amplification in mainstream film, centering both the Philippines and the movie’s Filipino lead characters. “We have so many Filipino stories to tell and share with everyone,” Mercado said of the community that gathered at a private residence in West Hollywood. “We have to keep showing up and share this beautiful culture.”

Platforming Filipinos in philanthropy was a new addition to Filipino Forces this year. SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans) executive director Kimmy Maniquis and Beauty Beyond Bars founder Lea Nepomuceno, both Filipino-founded organizations, were represented during the event. The leaders spoke about their respective missions, galvanizing those in attendance to connect, support, donate, and amplify their work.

As attendees spoke, the crowd dined on the Filipino-forward culinary experience by Sampa, including Bangka Banana Leaf Bass and “The Jewelmer,” a calamansi key-lime pie with polvoron crust.  Specialty cocktails, also curated by Sampa and with spirits provided by Diageo, included The Palawan, Coron Kape Martini, and El Nido Mojito.

Cocktail hour created the ideal setting for guests joining for the Fiesta portion of the evening. Guapdad 4000, designer Puey Quiñones, Jeannie Mai, and Bobby Berk turned out to support the event and have their portrait taken by Ja Tecson while enjoying treats from Wanderlust Creamery and Bake Some Noise. The Mahjong Salon saw Tina Chen Craig, Adrianne Ho, Tracey Cunningham, and Anna De Guzman throwing tiles on the automatic tables by Mahjong Mega Church with Jared Eng and Eileen Foliante. While a live performance by the Filipino Australian R&B group H3Rizon energized guests to start dancing through the expansive back patio.

But it was the ensembles floating through the front door that drew the most attention through the fiesta, as creative takes on the Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana cemented Filipino Forces as an event where fashion and creativity are always at the forefront. 

Quiñones wore his own design plus a custom Philip Treacy fascinator. Veronica Grazer, Adrianne Ho, Tina Chen Craig, and Pizarro all wore Vania Romoff. Model Rocky Barnes was dressed in Patty Ang and styled by Marc Yuquico, while Flores wore custom Mestizo LA with a gold brooch in the shape of the Philippine islands, called the Panama, by Jewelmer. 

Guests headed home with gift bags full of beauty from Revolve, travel accessories from Beis, a coffee table book from Jewelmer, makeup from Sunnies Face, and gift cards from Malbon. Even through the robust celebration of Filipino brands and each other’s accomplishments throughout the diaspora, it was clear that the most valuable takeaway was ongoing support from the local community. 

“Filipino Forces is so warm,” said Villanueva. “I feel so much community here. Sharing who we are with each other is so amazing and really cements what this type of event is for.”