Mark your calendar: July 22 and July 23 are set to become Fiesta Extravaganza Days in Surrey.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has promised to officially proclaim the two-day festival as Fiesta
Extravaganza celebrations in the city.
Locke is scheduled to read and sign and issue the proclamation during a meeting by Surrey city council
on Monday (July 10).
Members of the Filipino community are invited to attend and witness this significant event.
Locke made the pledge to offically proclaim Fiesta Extravaganza Days in a recent meeting with
organizers of the two-day Filipino-themed festival to be held at the Surrey Civic Plaza next to city hall.
The Surrey mayor met with Fiesta Extravaganza leaders at city hall last June 23.
Locke is serving her first term as mayor of Surrey following her victory in the civic election of October 15,
2022.
Before becoming mayor, Locke was a city councillor and Member of the Legislative Assembly of British
Columbia.
Together with Locke at the June 23 meeting was Harry Kooner, who assists the mayor with engaging the
diverse communities of Surrey.
Fiesta Extravaganza organizers were introduced to Mayor Locke by Mable Elmore, Member of the
Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-Kensington.
The July 22-23 event in Surrey is part of the nationwide celebration of Fiesta Extravaganza.
Media enterpreneur and Philippine Asian News Today publisher Rey Fortaleza previously secured the
rights to stage the event for the first in B.C. this year.
Fortaleza is also the vice president of the Filipino Canadian Cultural Heritage Society, a partner in the
presentation of Fiesta Extravaganza in Surrey.
Joining Fortaleza at the June 23 meeting with Mayor Locke at city hall were FCCHS president Primrosa
Roine; vice president Roldan Robles; treasurer Joy Sapiera; sergeant-at-arms Marie Holgado; auditor
Nellie Soque; directors Araceli Fortaleza and Jojo Alpuerto. Volunteer JeChrist Dayondon was also
present.
With MLA Elmore at the meeting was her constituency assistant Carlito Pablo.
Fiesta Extravaganza will feature entertainment and food and loads of Filipino cultural activities.
Yam Concepcion, one of the most recognized faces in the Philippine entertainment industry, tops the bill
of talents who will provide star power for the Fiesta Extravaganza event.
Fiesta Extravaganza enjoys the support of two presentors or major sponsors.
These are BMO, one of the biggest banks in North America, and Vancouver-Oasis Production Corp., a
company dedicated to empowering artists, particularly Asian performers, to shine on the world’s biggest
platforms.
Online, BMO says it is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets.
The bank serves 13 million customers globally, with eight million personal and commercial customers in
Canada.
Meanwhile, Vancouver-Oasis Production Corp. is known for bringing world-renowned Asian artists in the
heart of Vancouver, for unforgettable nights of music and culture.
The BMO and Vancouver-Oasis Production Corp. sponsorship is a vote of confidence for 2023 Fiesta
Extravaganza.
Also supporting the 2023 Fiesta Extravaganza are Philippine Airlines (PAL), the flag carrier of the
Philippines and the oldest airline in Asia, and 88 Supermarket, home to one of the largest selections of
ethnic foods in Greater Vancouver.
Fortaleza previously secured the Fiesta Extravaganza franchise for Western Canada from event organizer
Von Canton of Ontario.
International and local talents have lined up to provide entertainment at the 2023 Fiesta Extravaganza.
In addition to musical and dance presentations, Fiesta Extravaganza will also feature fun-filled Filipino
games, pop-up markets for various merchandise items, and food stalls and trucks.
“We are preparing a program featuring a glittering array of talents from outside and inside Canada to
entertain our guests,” Fortaleza said.
Fortaleza said that the full line-up will be announced closer to the July 22 and July 23 event.
“Visitors are going to have a blast with our mini-concerts and shows,” Fortaleza said.
In addition, exhibitors and merchandisers are quickly filling up spots at the event.
“We are receiving a lot of reservations and we are happy to accommodate everyone,” Fortaleza said.
Fiesta Extravaganza is being delivered for the first time in Western Canada.
Fiesta Extravaganza seeks to raise multicultural awareness and appreciation of the Filipino culture and
share them with other nationalities.
In 2022, the event made history in the summer festivals in Toronto, Vaughan, Niagara, Hamilton, and
Montreal.
For the current year 2023, Fiesta Extravaganza is expanding to Surrey and Miramichi.
For bands and other performing groups, contact Rey Fortaleza (reyfort@gmail.com and/or 778-895-
6667) and Jojo Alpuerto (604-616-1953)
