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'Baryo HiFi' in Historic Filipinotown celebrates AAPI Heritage Month

Thousands flock to Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles for the inaugural street festival Baryo HiFi to kick off AAPI Heritage Month.

Article (news)

Steve Angeles

TFC News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/upRvXZKo1fo?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Beverly Boulevard is one of the busiest streets that connect many communities, but to kick off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Filipino community shut it down to turn it into “Baryo HiFi.”The event drew thousands in Historic Filipinotown.It saw stage performances by rising musicians, award winning, and celebrity Filipino chefs, as well as uniquely Filipino products.The gathering also included games, prizes, and even a karaoke contest hosted by Grammy-nominated Fil-Am rapper Guapdad4000.“It’s amazing,” said Elvira Chan, owner of the restaurant Dollar Hits. “It’s very good and this is a successful one.”Digital creator Fran Margiela, meanwhile, said Baryo HiFi championed Filipino culture and its people.The free event was conceptualized five years ago. It was planned by members of HiFi Coalition, with the aim of promoting Historic Filipinotown as a cultural hub.After the original plan was shelved during the pandemic, the coalition, along with big time sponsors like JoKoy, stepped into bring the festival to life.They had less than two months of planning, and MYX Global came aboard as a media partner.“We really wanted to do something different and go really big and partner with the entire creative community,” said Stephanie Ramos, one of the producers of Baryo HiFi.Miles Canares, another producer of the event, said it was an honor “to be able to do something that is for our culture for our people.”“Being able to do it on such a big scale, in the heart of Historic Filipinotown, is such a blessing,” Canares added.Artists such as Bay Area rapper P-Lo, Filipino-Australian music sensation Rini, New Jerey’s Yeek, and many more turned the party into a global affair and celebration of culture.Long food lines may have made grabbing a quick bite a bit difficult but John Legaspi from San Francisco put on the ultimate fast food display in the Lumpia eating contest.He won $1,000 in Postmaster credits by devouring 15 Filipino spring rolls in a little over a minute. With plenty of food and memories to “baon” or bring home, the first-ever Baryo HiFi proved to be the ultimate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month event.Organizers hope this would be a new proudly Pinoy tradition in the City of Angels.

Thousands flock to Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles for the inaugural street festival Baryo HiFi to kick off AAPI Heritage Month.