Philippine cultural entertainment will be provided by Assumpta Choir (Saturday at 7:30 p.m.), Dance International Production (Friday at 7:30 p.m.), La Galeria: Compania Baile Filipino (Saturday at 9 p.m.) and the Students of Aggie Cabebe (Saturday at 6:30 p.m.).

KAHULUI — Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center in Kahului will be the site of the 53rd annual Barrio Fiesta, according to Melen Agcolicol, president of Binhi at Ani, the coordinating organization.

The event will be held live on Friday, May 27, from 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Portions of the Barrio Fiesta will be virtually rebroadcast at a later date.

According to Agcolicol, the Barrio Fiesta was initiated by the Maui Filipino Community Council and first held on May 31, 1970 at the War Memorial grounds near the swimming pool.

At that time, there was an influx of recent immigrants from the Philippines that caused many problems, especially in the schools. The initial purpose of the Barrio Fiesta was to share the Filipino culture with the rest of Maui County and to also instill a sense of pride in local Filipinos of the rich culture of their motherland.

Today, the need to share the Filipino culture with all of Maui’s residents remains true as the Filipino community continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

The 53rd annual Barrio Fiesta will be dedicated in memory of the late Agrifina “Aggie” Cabebe, who was the first chairperson of the Barrio Fiesta.

Cabebe, also known as the “Mother of Filipino Folk Dance on Maui,” passed away in December 2020.

“Binhi at Ani is forever indebted to Mrs. Cabebe,” said Alfredo Evangelista, co-chair of the Barrio Fiesta Committee and a former dance student of Cabebe.

“Mrs. Cabebe was the first president of Binhi at Ani back in 1985 when it was incorporated. Her contributions to Binhi at Ani and Maui’s Filipino community will never be matched, and it’s fitting Binhi at Ani dedicates this Barrio Fiesta — the first live one in two years — in her memory.”

Food, culture, pageantry, contests and special events will be featured during the Barrio Fiesta.

Traditional Filipino food, such as banana lumpia, cascaron, chicharron empanada, dinuguan, gulaman, ice candy, marinated bangus, pansit, pork adobo, pork and peas, pork bbq, pork lumpia, puto, suman, vegetable lumpia will be served, plus favorite local dishes: andagi, barbecue beef teriyaki, chow fun, corn and sweet spicy chicken. The event will also feature a Farmer’s Market.

Inside the center, there will be a replica of a Bahay Kubo and cultural villages depicting several provinces/regions of the Philippines: Cebu, Cordillera, Ilocos, Metro Manila, Mindanao, and Pangasinan.

Vying for the title of Miss Barrio Fiesta are Angel Alba, Audryanah Latayada Starmer and Kyara Tumacder. The crowning will be held on Friday at 7 p.m.

Special events include The Santa Cruzan depicting the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena featuring the Miss Barrio Fiesta queens (Friday at 6:30 p.m.); the Veterans Memorial Service (Saturday at noon); the introduction of the Miss Maui Filipina contestants (Saturday at 6 p.m.); and the Outstanding Housekeepers Awards (Saturday at 8 p.m.).

Several contests with large prizes are scheduled: Any Kine Sisig Challenge (Saturday at 3:30 p.m., $500 for first place); The Barrio Fiesta Voice (Friday at 8:30 p.m., $500 first place); Barrio Wear Contest (Saturday at 7 p.m., $250 first place for both male and female); Climb the Greased Pole Contest (Saturday at 1 p.m., $500 first place); Da Pansit Eating Contest (Saturday at 3 p.m., $500 first place); Do the Sungka (Saturday at 10:30 a.m., $500 first place); Pabitin (Friday at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.); and Sabado Art Foundation Keiki Art Party (Saturday at 2 p.m., $500 first place).

There will be free food boxes from Maui Food Bank for attendees 65 years and older on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. while supplies last, and a lechon demonstration Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

“We’re very pleased to continue with the preservation of our Filipino culture by annually having the Barrio Fiesta,” said Nora Cabanilla-Takushi, this year’s chairperson.

“The Barrio Fiesta is the longest running Filipino fiesta in the United States and we are proud to have it here on Maui. There is definitely something for everyone. And it’s a great way to continue to share our culture with all of Maui and to be with old and new friends.”