28 August 2024, Burnaby – The Asian Arts and Culture Society featured the Philippines at the 3rd Annual BC Dumpling Festival held at the Towne Centre Park in Coquitlam on 10 August 2024.
This festival is a multicultural, family-friendly event that showcases dumplings from different cultures. The event opened with short messages from various Canadian government officials, led by Philippine Consul General Arlene T. Magno, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony. In her remarks, Consul General Magno highlighted the significance of dumplings, which are available in many countries across the globe, in some form or preparation, in demonstrating unity amidst diversity. She was grateful for the recognition accorded to the Philippines and the Filipinos’ strong presence in BC and Canada and their contributions to the country’s food culture and multicultural society as a whole.
The festival also featured a dumpling eating contest where Mayor Richard Stewart, current Coquitlam mayor, and his councillors participated. Consul General Arlene T. Magno presented the trophy to Councillor Matt Djonlic, the reigning champion of the Open Class dumpling eating contest.
The Philippine Consulate’s booth displayed traditional décor, food items, and pamphlets on favorite travel destinations like Cebu, Boracay, Ilocos, Bicol, as well as Surigao and Siargao. Visitors to the booth got to sample Filipino snacks, such as carioca, fish crackers, and Choc Nut.
Filipino food vendors Telly’s Manila Kitchen, Goldilocks, Plato Filipino, Lee’s Donuts, Shameless Buns, and Mr. Siopao de Langley, who formulated a unique Ube Siopao variant as his Filipino interpretation of the classic dumpling recipe for this event, joined non-food vendors Ms. Filipiniana, My Abubot, and Hablon Hues and Styles at the Philippine Pavilion.
The BC Dumpling Festival was first conceived during COVID 19 when there was a rise in anti-Asian hate and crime in the Coquitlam community. This year, an estimated 50,000 people attended the festival. END
