Barrio Fiesta at Saint Martin’s to emphasize ‘One Family’

March 29, 2012

LACEY, WASHINGTON—In the tradition of barrio fiestas in the Philippines, the Saint Martin’s University Filipino Heritage Club invites friends, neighbors and community members to share in the celebration of its third annual Barrio Fiesta on Saturday, April 14, 2012. The fiesta will be held at the University’s Norman Worthington Conference Center at 5300 Pacific Ave SE. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. General admission is $5. 

Translating as “neighborhood party,” Barrio Fiesta was established in 2010 by Saint Martin’s students to showcase Filipino culture and traditions.

This year’s theme, Isang Pamilya, or “One Family,” promises a festive and inviting ambiance for the celebratory evening.

“We chose this theme because we welcome everyone to our fiesta,” says Natasha Sensano, the club's president. “Here at Saint Martin’s, we’re , one family, regardless of our race, our religion or where we come from."

The University’s Filipino Heritage Club members will share their Filipino traditions through a series of song and dance. The program also will include a dinner featuring a traditional menu of steamed rice, pansit, adobo and lumpia as well as other Filipino delicacies.

New to this year’s celebration will be Dance International Production, a group from Maui that uses song and dance to promote Filipino, Hawaiian and Tahitian cultures. The group will be performing under the direction of Madelyne Pascua. 

Says Sensano, “You don’t want to miss this!”

Saint Martin’s University is an independent four-year, coeducational university located on a 380-acre wooded campus in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 14 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through its 21 majors and six graduate programs spanning the liberal arts, business, education and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes 1,250 students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its main campus, and 650 more to its extension campuses located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Everett College, Centralia College and Tacoma Community College. Visit the Saint Martin’s University website at www.stmartin.edu.

For additional information:

Filipino Heritage Club
360-486-8028
smufhc@gmail.com

Sarah Holdener
Director of community relations and event management
Office of Marketing and Communications
Saint Martin’s University
360-412-6140
sholdener@stmartin.edu