Fiesta Filipina 1995
During the 1980’s the Department of Tourism launched the Fiesta Islands festival, commemorating Independence Day of the Philippines, in San Francisco. After almost a decade of successful Independence Day festivals, the cash-strapped DOT decided 1994 would be the last year of Fiesta Islands. Fortunately, in 1995, four organizers from the private sector formed the Asian Pacific Exhibits & Conferences, Inc. (APEC). Sid Protasio, Art Padua, Tony Lim and Gerry Palabyab would continue the legacy and Fiesta Filipina was born. The 1st Annual Fiesta Filipina was held at Fort Mason on June 10, 11 & 12, 1995. The festival was an overwhelming success, attracting dignitaries from the Philippines including the soon-to-be Former President Joseph Estrada, Mayor Lim of Manila and San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan, among others.

Fiesta Filipina 1996
The following year APEC launch the “Kalayaan ’96 Festivals” - 3 weekends in 3 different cities. The union included Filipino Festival ’96 in Monterrey, Musical Islands in Union Square, San Francisco, and Fiesta Filipina at Pier 45 in San Francisco. All three festivals continued to solidify APEC’s position as the premier festival organizer. Fiesta Filipina 1996’s honored guests included Senator Magsaysay from the Philippines, and Mayor Willie Brown, the former who was been the guest of honor at every Fiesta Filipina to the present. And the roster of performers continued to grow, including mainstream starts including Jocelyn Enriquez and Jaya, among other famous singers and cultural groups from the Philippines and the Bay Area.

Fiesta Filipina 1997
Fiesta Filipina 1997 stayed at Pier 45 at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. The newest addition to the festival included a parade, entitled “Kasaysayan ng Lahing Pilipino” or Cultural Historical Parade. The parade route ran west to east along Jefferson Street from the Aquatic Park (on Hyde and Jefferson Sts.), then left on Taylor and on to Pier 45. Parade participants included the San Francisco Mounted Police, Ati-Atihan dancers, cultural dance groups, Alumni Associations, WWII veterans, among others. Special guest stars at the program on the main stage were Martin Nievera, Agot Isidro and Jocelyn Enriquez, and various cultural and modern dance groups from the Filipino American community.

Fiesta Filipina 1998
Fiesta Filipina 1998 moved to Civic Center Plaza in front of San Francisco’s City Hall and celebrated the centennial anniversary of Philippine Independence with a special “Philippine Centennial International Cultural Festival” featuring guest stars from the Philippines including Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin; and international celebrities including Jorge Santana, Pete Escovedo and Conjunto Cespedes. The entire festival danced to the music as the stage paraded an eclectic mix of Latin jazz, American pop and Filipino standards bands. New to Fiesta for 1998 was the History pavilion, a pictorial essay of Philippine history, as well as a Dance & World Travel Pavilion with presentations of traditional and modern Filipino dances, science and technology displays and a showcase of original work by contemporary American Filipino choreographers. Joining Willie Brown as the guest of honor was Philippine Consul General Teresita Marzan. The record breaking attendance topped 80,000 people, not only from the Filipino American community but other communities as well.

Fiesta Filipina 1999
Fiesta Filipina 1999 was presented as the Philippine Independence and Education Celebration. This two-day festival showcased the cross-cultural roots of the Philippines with six different pavilions, an open-air market and main stage entertainment by 100 contemporary and traditional Philippine, Latino and Asian performers. One pavilions was dedicated to the promoting the importance of education. Schools and universities were invited to participate in an outreach program, presenting the programs available to the public. Among the highlights of the program was international singing idol Jordan Knight, formerly of New Kids On The Block, as well as Fil-Am favorites including KAI, One Voice, Palabuniyan Kulintang, Ating Tao (a percussion company), Sining Kumintang ng Batangas (dance company from the Philippines), Michele Diaz (a singer from the Bay Area) and a fashion show and exhibition of the Barong Tagalog (the Philippine national costume) created by Filipino designer Barge Ramos. This year joining Willie Brown was then Philippine Consul General Amado Cortez, and US Representative Ms. Nancy Pelosi.

Fiesta Filipina 2000
New for Fiesta Filipina 2000 was the Bb. Fiesta Filipina Beauty Pageant, an internationally acclaimed talent and beauty contest that searched for a Bb. Fiesta Filipina among young female contestants from the Filipino American community. The Dance Pavilion featured Filipino folk dancing, Hawaiian, and ballroom dancing presentations, as well as, dance workshops in each of these categories for the public to learn. Headliners in the main stage program were Filipino artists Ruby Rodriguez, Ella May Siason, Richard Gomez and various singers and dancers from the Bay Area.

Fiesta Filipina 2001
Fiesta Filipina 2001 continued to grow as the festival featured new exhibitors from the Philippines ranging from woodcrafts, native embroidered clothing, native baskets and processed foods. This pavilion showcased a sampling of products from the Philippines to the Bay Area. Lined up for the main stage program were local Filipino cultural dance and martial arts groups, as well as a singing group from Hawaii, Forte, and Billy Crawford, Filipino American singer from New York. Highlighting the program were popular artists Diether Ocampo, Ai-Ai de las Alas and Arnel Ignacio from the Philippines. Once again, Willie Brown cut the opening ceremony ribbon, joined by Consul General Delia Menez Rosal.

Fiesta Filipina 2002
Fiesta Filipina 2002 had grown to be the most largely attended Independence Day celebration in the Bay Area. The Bb. Fiesta Filipina Beauty Pageant was again one of the highlights of the program, as well as international superstars Christopher de Leon, Rica Paralejo and Roselle Nava. And Fiesta Filipina had turned out to be a proving ground for upcoming Fil-Am talents, having promoted the success of cross-over artists such as Buffy, Jocelyn Enriquez, KAI, Pinay, One Voice, Innerlude and Fatima, among others. It had become a venue for local cultural groups to present to the community a sampling of traditional dance and music such as Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble, Ating Tao, Rondalla bands, Maharlika Dance Troupe, various martial arts/escrima groups, Sining Kumintang and others.

Fiesta Filipina 2003
Fiesta Filipina 2003, acclaimed for bringing the biggest talent from the Philippines to the Bay Area went all out and topped its previous years. Fiesta Filipina flew in Senator Soto of popular Filipino television show “Eat Bulaga” from the Philippines bringing Filipinos living in the United States closer to home. And the finale, megastar performer, Cesar Montano mesmerized the audience with his melodic sounds. New to Fiesta Filipina for 2003 was the Filipino Choice Awards, celebrating the accomplishments of Fil-Am businesspeople and philanthropists, as well as a celebration of the heritage was also present on stage by cultural performers, local youth artists which was brought together by highly recognized local emcees such as Tita Aida, David Rodriquez and PJ Jacinto.

Fiesta Filipina 2003 "LAS VEGAS, NEVADA"
For the first time in history, Fiesta Filipina was held at the Fremont Street in Las Vegas on October 25 and 26 2003. The festival featured new exhibitors from the Philippines from native canned goods, baskets, embroidered clothing, to Philippine delicacy and cuisine. The search for young and talented Bb. Fiesta Filipina Beauty Pageant was one of the highlights of the program. The Santa Cruzan around the Fremont Street, Maharlika Dances Troupe, Filipiniana Dance Co., Hiphop Dance Group, Philippine Dance Co. and mainstage performers like Bernardo Bernardo, Angela Velez, Jo Awayan and Lailani Navarro were also featured. The celebration of Philippine heritage in the world's entertainment capital was indeed an overwhelming success.

Fiesta Filipina 2004
Fiesta Filipina 2004 Fiesta Filipina continued to grow, entertain and educate people in the Bay Area of their Filipino traditions and culture. During our opening ceremony, we were honored to be visited by Senator-Elect Jinggoy Estrada and Anchorwoman Korina Sanchez together with Consul General Delia Menez Rosal and Undersecretary Rolando Reyes. Following was a creative line up on the main stage by Filipino cultural artists and modern dance groups as well as talented singers from the Bay Area. Highlighting the program were popular artists from the Philippines like Aileen Papin, Angela Velez, G. Tongi, and Ms. Rachel Alejandro. The event would not be complete with out the Fiesta Filipina 2004 exhibitors marketing their respective products from native goods to embroidered clothing to Filipino delicacies and cuisines. To top it all, the festival included the yearly search for Little and Miss Republic of the Philippines.

Fiesta Filipina 2004 "Las Vegas"
For the second time, Fiesta Filipina celebrate the Philippine Heritage Month at Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas, NV last Oct. 22, 23 and 24 2004 as they entertain and educate the people about the Philippines, its native product, delicacies & cuisines, traditions & culture with the help of The Philippine Dept of Trade Region 8 Director and Leyte Province Congresswoman Remedios Petilla and Congresswoman Carmen Cari, they brought their native product from the Region 8. Twelve beautiful young ladies competing for the title of Bb. Fiesta Filipina 2004 Las Vegas was one of the highlights of the program. Aside from that, there were local and International talents who entertained the audience from the beginning until the end of the show, including the "Soul Diva" Anna Fegi from the Philippines.