Barrio Fiesta Season is now officially over. After Morden, Yorkshire, Bradford, Milton Keynes, Blackpool, and of course London, it’s time to pack up the stalls for another year. Where once Barrio Fiesta – whichever one you chose to go to, was the must-go event of the summer this year I struggled to find anyone who attended one Barrio Fiesta, let alone all of them.

 

It seems for my generation the appeal of attending Barrio Fiesta has lessened significantly over the years. Okay, so perhaps it’s not so important socially for my circle to go anymore. We’re not in college so the need to be seen at the one event we were all guaranteed to be able to get into isn’t necessary. It couldn’t have just been about being seen though. I refuse to believe that is the only reason we would drag ourselves on the Piccadilly line out to Hounslow each year – come rain or shine.

 

I remember, apart from seeing your college friends, Barrio was a chance to catch up with people you hadn’t seen in a long time – possibly even since before the last Barrio. Many a time I would be wondering around the park only to be stopped by someone having to stand directly in front of me – so to not be lost in the sea of faces, and declare, ‘Oh my gosh I haven’t seen you in ages!’ These loud announcements coming from people I used to play with at the parties my parents used to make me go to when I was in single figures to various aunts, uncles, and godparents who I struggled to understand how they still recognised me it had been so long.

 

Of course, it was always best when one of these relatives happened to be on a stall selling BBQ or Halo-Halo, or any kind of food basically – we’re not fussy and certainly not proud at these prices. I know the BBQ and Halo-Halo are the main reason I went this year, and of course macapuno ice-cream. Manna from Heaven! Seriously.

 

 

 

I know I’m not alone in these thoughts, and I know that they’re not new either. Ask any Filipino at Barrio and you’ll soon see a common theme running through their listed reasons of why they’re there – the food!

 

We know that we can get the same food (for free) at home, but there was just something about being at Barrio and tucking into some lovely Pinoy food surrounded by other Filipinos. Of course there were always other dishes like pancit (of course), adobo, pinakbet…but the BBQ was always the number one reason for going. In later years we would of course realise that the later you went then you can feast for much less as the stalls were trying to pack up and sell off all of their food.

 

 

Plate in hand you would try to find a patch of grass in front of the stage that wasn’t occupied. I’ve sat there and listened to the person singing thinking they were “pretty darn good” without ever realising I was listening to Regine Velasquez. When else would you ever get the chance at a free concert of one of the Philippines most talented and adored artists in such a relaxed atmosphere? Barrio has in previous years definitely drawn in the stars.

 

 

 

However, I don’t think it’s drawing the crowds the same way it used to, not from my generation at least. Naturally there was a gap in Barrio attendance when we were away at university and spending the summers working our summer jobs when we couldn’t take a Sunday off. Even now though, when we’re in London with time on our hands it’s an effort to actually go to Barrio anymore.

 

I don’t think we’re any less proud of our cultural heritage. Almost every Filipino I know cheered the Pacman on when he fought against Ricky Hatton. We definitely all still love our food. We still love to catch up with old friends.

 

The acts were never a big draw, most of the time you never even knew who was performing, and even if you knew the name you seldom knew that they were someone worth seeing. We rarely go to the funfair, but that’s probably more to do with we just don’t heal as fast from the bruises and if there’s any trouble we don’t want to deal with it. With social networking sites it’s much easier to stay in touch with old friends, and yet not once was the question ever asked, ‘Who’s going to Barrio this year?’ I think perhaps you just outgrow it all.

 

Admittedly, I do still like to go to Barrio – ice-cream aside, but it is a struggle. This year I managed an hour, if the weather had been nicer I may have stayed longer, but after half an hour I was already thinking I’d had enough. We no longer feel it necessary to attend the one event you know everyone will be at. You have your close circle of friends and that’s enough, it’s not needed to network the way we used to. You don’t have to justify not being at the summer event. If you want BBQ then you have one at your house. Entertainment? That’s what TFC and MagicMic are for; we make our own entertainment now. With the ability to meet these needs every day of the year it can’t really be any surprise that we don’t go to Barrio anymore.

 

I understand that for those who are new to being away from home then Barrio is a welcomed event. I know that I invited my cousin and her friends down the first summer that they’d moved to the UK and I think they really enjoyed that. I think it will always be an important event to those new to the UK, as well as those with young children, and for teenagers alike. It helps to reaffirm a sense of identity and is a common experience we all have – I defy you to find a Filipino who’s never been to some sort of Barrio Fiesta.

 

For those of us in that time between education and having a family it feels like Barrio isn’t for us. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, because I have no doubt that the time will come when we’re ready to more than just do a lap around the park and head home. Plus, it’s always nice to know that should we want to indulge in our favourite Filipino delicacies with some live Filipino entertainment, then Barrio is always just a few seasons away.

Posted on 5 September 2009 by Gemma in Culture, Events

Tagged barrio fiesta, community, heritage, london