The Philippine Cultural Committee will be hosting the 2023 Vallejo Pista Sa Nayon festival on Saturday in Vallejo.
CRSB, Adrian Marcel and Alisah Bonaobra will lead the list of dynamic acts performing at the Main Stage at this year’s event, which will be held again at the Mare Island Coal Sheds at 850 Nimitz Avenue from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Rounding out this year’s lineup are Papa Joe & the New Deal, Miriam Pantig, Diggy (of the Mango Kingz), Filipino folk dance group Parangal, Likha Pilipino Dance Ensemble, Larzy, DJ Deeandroid and DJ Traps. Instagram comedy personality Bong Robbie will serve as emcee and special guests are expected to wow the crowd.
“It is a true honor to take on this long-time Vallejo tradition and we are excited to present some of the most vibrant, creative and talented Filipino-Americans from the Bay Area at this year’s celebration,” Festival Organizer Jennie Mojica said in a news release. “Our team has worked hard to preserve what our elders and leaders in the Filipino community have built for over three decades. We are delivering an unforgettable experience for everyone to enjoy.”
Musical duo and Vallejo natives CRSB, aka Chris Ramos (CR) and Sonny Burns (SB), has been a fixture of the island reggae music scene since 2013 and is known for high-energy live performances. The duo often collaborates with Adrian Marcel, a singer, songwriter and rapper from Oakland, whose discography includes the acclaimed album 98th and three mixtapes. Vocalist Alisah Bonaobra has wowed international TV audiences while competing in The Voice of the Philippines and The X Factor.
Attendance is expected to exceed 5,000. Parking on Mare Island is limited and organizers are encouraging attendees to take the free round-trip ferry service between the Waterfront and Mare Island.
Vallejo Pista Sa Nayon, which is held on the same month as Philippine Independence Day, celebrated Filipino culture at the Waterfront for more than 35 years. The COVID-19 pandemic forced it’s large festival cancellation from 2020-21, but Pista Sa Nayon returned last year at the new venue known as the Mare Island Coal Sheds.
This year, organizers are again embracing change as they add new activities for a more rounded festival experience. In addition to the Main Stage, the Next Generation Stage will feature entertainment led by our younger generation, including performers Tyler Lauren, BxRod and Hokage Simon; Liano Perez with a B-boy workshop; NRG Dance Group; and Amelia & Adinah from FanTV.
The stage will also host activities by Fil-Am students from Vallejo, Jesse Bethel, St. Patrick-St. Vincent and Benicia high schools.
Also debuting this year are cultural experiences designed to spotlight the uniqueness of our culture: dance lessons led by Likha; Filipino tattoo designs by Gio’s; live art demonstrations; a barber showcase by IV; and arts, cultural crafts and games for children hosted by Kababayan Kids.
Some favorites are also returning, including the Filipino Martial Arts Tournament, which begins at 10 a.m. following an 8:30 a.m. registration. A Zumba dance performance will kick off the main festivities at 11 a.m. with local instructors inviting everyone to join in.
Food vendors will be dishing out Filipino cuisine to be enjoyed by all, while othr vendors will be selling Filipino-inspired clothing, books, jewelry and other handcrafts.
Key sponsors making this community event possible include the Mare Island Company, Cache Creek, SF Bay Ferry, V-Town Farms and Kaiser Permanente.
