Sep 162014
 

By Dan E. Nino

Artesia, Calif. – All roads will lead to Pioneer Blvd. between 183rd and 188th streets in Artesia, California on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. to a historic 2014 International Street Fair,  Diversity Festival and Expo where products and merchandise from different cultures  will be showcased.

This was announced by Felix B. Lopez, president of Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC-SEC) and Eddie C. Ferrer, president of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA in collaboration with the City of Artesia, Artesia Chamber of Commerce and Coalition of Associations of South East Corridor (CASEC).

Aside from exotic goods, products and merchandise, the public will be treated to entertainment and music, parade, multicultural food, beer garden, fun and cultural shows, among others on Pioneer St. which will be closed to traffic. Parking is available on the periphery of  Pioneer Blvd. A shuttle bus courtesy of the City of Artesia  will also ferry the public from end to end of Pioneer Blvd. on the corner of  183rd and 188th streets.

The 16 ethnic cultures which are prime movers of the  organizing committee are the Philippines, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Croatia, India, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Portugal, Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The public can do shopping with an array of goods and merchandise from hundreds of vendors and exhibitors from around the world including the Philippines.

Producers and manufacturers from the province of Pangasinan will take part in this International Street Fair and Diversity Festival where their products will be displayed.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. of Pangasinan  has mobilized the Pangasinan Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to participate in this signature event. He said in his letter to PB-USA President Eddie C. Ferrer, “With the strong support that the Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA has committed, we are inspired to work harder for the attainment of our vision and mission for a more progressive Pangasinan. We look forward to a more-lasting and productive partnership with PB-USA.

Fifteen manufacturing companies from Pangasinan are expected to put up booths with products like dried and pickled mangoes, peanut brittle and chocolates, boneless bangus, fashion accessories, bamboo crafts, woodcraft and wooden products, fish sauce (bagoong), guyabano tea and dragon fruit, doll carriage, toy chest and hampers, handicraft and handmade products, furniture and coffee tables, buri bayong, native flower decors and braided bamboo products.

Philippine Consul General of Los Angeles Leo M. Herrera-Lim and Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Tourism in L.A. Manny Ilagan had endorsed this one-day festival during a courtesy call with FACC-SEC and PB-USA convenors at the Philippine Consulate.

Artesia, a tiny city of 1.6 sq. miles with a population of over 17,000 is a melting pot of diverse nationalities wherein 48 different languages are spoken as a primary and secondary language. Artesia Mayor Tony Lima, whose city is a staunch supporter of this festival said, “We need to have this festival as a prelude for better things to come. I see it as an investment.”

For more information, interested parties may call Felix B. Lopez at 562-402-1737 or fblopezinsurance@msn.com or Eddie C. Ferrer at 562-841-5381 or edrenjac@aol.com.

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