Entertainment
Explore the rich tapestry of Filipino music, from classic folk songs to the latest chart-topping hits. Discover talented local artists, both emerging and established, as they captivate audiences with their soulful performances. Additionally, experience the joy and energy of traditional Filipino dances, as we showcase the graceful movements and colorful costumes that bring our cultural heritage to life.
marc tupaz
Marc Tupaz is a Filipino musician best known as the former frontman of the popular rock band Shamrock. Under his leadership, Shamrock gained widespread recognition in the mid-2000s with their hit singles like “Alipin” and “Pagsamo,” which resonated deeply with the Filipino audience due to their emotive lyrics and melodic rock sound. Marc’s powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence were pivotal in establishing Shamrock’s presence in the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) scene. After leaving Shamrock, he continued to pursue his passion for music, engaging in various solo projects and collaborations, contributing to the rich tapestry of Filipino music.
justin & Jeremy Garcia
Jeremy and Justin Garcia are accomplished musicians and twin brothers known for their contributions to the music industry as talented guitarists and songwriters. They first gained attention as members of the family band, The Garcia Brothers, where their intricate guitar work and harmonious interplay set them apart. The duo’s versatility spans various genres, including rock, jazz, and blues, showcasing their exceptional technical skills and musicality.
Alpha Nicolasin
Alpha Nicolasin is a flight attendant for a major US airline and writes on her journal during her layovers. She hosted Hataw Pinoy Chicago, a weekly television show that aired in Chicago from 2003 to 2013. She was the managing editor of The Filipino American Community Builder, a monthly newspaper that served the Filipino community in the Greater Chicago Area from 2002 to 2015.
Olive Leopoldo
Olive Leopoldo is a dedicated individual who is passionate about promoting cultural awareness and community building. As a member of CIRCA Pintig, she has played an important role in promoting Filipino American culture and history through various programs and events. Her leadership in her high school’s Asian American Club and her role as a Piyesta Pinoy Youth Emcee for several years demonstrate her commitment to fostering cultural appreciation among the youth
PACF Performing arts
Based in the western suburbs, PACF Performing Arts is a youth group that was formed to teach our children the positive aspects of our culture, heritage, and history through dance, music, and arts; to learn to appreciate, respect and work with each other; to learn to give back to the community; and to help promote our rich Philippine culture by performing at many cultural events, churches, private functions and community programs.
Bibbak
BIBBAK IL is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the culture and traditions of the Cordilleran people, an indigenous group of people from the Northern region of the Philippines, specifically in the Cordilleran mountains. In this region are different ethnic groups the Bontoc, Ifugao, Benguet, Apayao, Kalinga, Kankanaey, and Ibaloi people. These are the people that BIBBAK represents.
Galilee Lien Montero
Galilee Lien Montero is an undergraduate student studying for a Biology degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a Filipino American, Filipino culture has always been an important factor throughout her life. During her upbringing, she has had the privilege to perform and teach many cultural dances. She wishes to share her love for her culture with younger generations of Filipino Americans and she is proud to be able to express this through Piyesta Pinoy!
OLIVIA SOLEDAD MERCER
Olivia Soledad (Lia) is 12 years old and going into 7th grade at Central Intermediate School. She enjoys singing, running, and knitting. Alongside hobbies, she cherishes her successes, namely coding, spelling bees, and musical feats. She hopes to become a school counselor one day.
(Lia is co-hosting and singing the Philippine National Anthem this year.)
no limits
For over 10 years No Limits Band of Chicago have been igniting crowds in Chicagoland and northwest suburbs with their exhilarating live performance that mirrors the artists they are covering. The band covers all the popular genres from 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s and current hits- with extremely wide selection of disco, rock, pop, r&b, new wave, funk, dance, country, Motown, Latin, and many more that allows them to effortlessly switch musical gears in order to accommodate any audience. Each show is loaded with variety and contrast that takes the audience on a generational tour of music genres.
raissa yabes
Raissa Yabes has performed in numerous concerts including being an opening act for Two-Gether Again with Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, Threelogy with Morrisette, Christian Bautista and Eric Santos and for vocally powerful artists such as Jaya, Marcelito Pomoy and Nyoy Volante. Last year, she also performed at Piyesta Pinoy and sang a duet with matinee idol Gabby Concepcion. Raissa’s passion in singing has only grown with time as shown by her remarkable involvement in various shows.
anna nicolasin
Anna has been singing since she was young – with family, church choir, school choir and a cappella groups, and at Fil-Am events like Adobofest and Piyesta Pinoy. Anna has multiple chronic illnesses, including lung disorders that have made singing very difficult, but has recently started singing again and won this year’s Skokie Idol competition! Anna lives with their husband and their beagle-corgi, Jasmine Milk Tea.
trina nicolasin
Trina Andrea Milo-Nicolasin is a singer and dancer who was a cast member of the local television show Hataw Pinoy Chicago and competed with World of Dance champion Puzzle League. She has been singing since she was a little girl and won the title of Skokie Idol 2023. She currently works as a school secretary and loves coaching her school’s junior varsity volleyball team. Her favorite thing to do is traveling and camping with her wife Natalie and their two boys, Elijah and Benji.
Samasama project
SamaSama Project was launched as Chicago’s premiere Filipino Folk Fusion band in 2008. “SamaSama” translated as “united, together” truly lives up to their name creating a blend of Filipino folk, rock, ska, and Latin music, inspired by a 1970s musical movement called Manila Sound. Over the years, the talented group led by singer and musical actress Lou Ella Rose and husband Baron Lloyd Cabalona, a versatile musician and arranger have made their mark showcasing a fusion of Filipino traditional folk and contemporary music at many notable venues and events. SamaSama Project regularly performs around Illinois and other Midwest States.
Soundredd
Several years ago in Waukegan, Illinois, Jeff and Jonathan started jamming with each other. Jeff met Archie and introduced him to the rest of guys and they all started to jam from time to time. After a while, everyone got busy with work and other commitments. until one day, they were bored and called up some guys to jam once again. Few months we asked Vince to join Sounderedd. They became known as a Journey cover band.
ingrid bantugan
Ingrid Bantugan is a 19-year-old Filipina-American from Villa Park, Illinois. Her family moved from the Philippines to the U.S., and she was born here in the States on June 12! While growing up, music was always a part of her life and something she always had a passion for. She played the violin in her school orchestra, during her elementary years. Then in high school, she went on to join her school’s choir and vocal jazz group, where she earned many opportunities to perform and recognition for her musical talents.
rozz daniels
Rozz, a Filipino artist from Milwaukee originally hailing from Manila, has received several music awards in the Philippines. Last year, she released an OPM titled “Song For Love” and will soon be releasing a revival of the single “Ibang-Iba Ka Na”, popularized by Renz Verano, under EBQ Music Records. You can catch her later this year hosting the Rocks and Rozz Christmas Show 2024 in the Philippines.
FiA’liwan
FIA’Liwan is a musical group stemming from UIC’s Filipino organization, Filipinos in Alliance (FIA). The Filipino word “aliwan” means entertainment, which reflects the talent, versatility, and flexibility of the group – not just as performers, but as entertainers. Consisting of singers and instrumentalists, the group serves as a creative outlet for those looking to express themselves through Original Pinoy Music (OPM). Specializing in creating covers and medleys of both new and old OPM, FIA’Liwan aims to spread knowledge, sound, and culture from the Philippines and hopes to inspire others with their passion and musical talents.
Pheobe Teoli
Phoebe Teoli is 16 years old and is a member of PACF Performing Arts. She has been part of this group since 3rd grade. She attends Hinsdale Central High School and is a member of the school choir. She sings for other events affiliated with Hinsdale Central. Phoebe is singing the US National Anthem for Piyesta Pinoy this year! She is also an active volunteer of Filipino American Historical society of Chicago.
fia CULTURAL
As one of the five subgroups within Filipinos in Alliance at UIC, FIA Cultural focuses on teaching aspects of Filipino Culture to its members from teaching different cultural dances (such as Tinikling and Maglalatik), to showcasing how to cook different Filipino foods. We hope to challenge our understanding of our heritage by building an environment of traditional and modern Filipino ideals and by continuing to strengthen new and old relationships.
barkada
PSA Barkada is a cultural dance group dedicated to exploring the indigenous history of Filipino performing arts. Barkada hopes to foster a deep-seated connection between our performers, audience, and the rich traditions of pre-colonial Filipino culture. Barkada works to create a nurturing environment for dancers to develop and explore their own interests in our culture’s indigenous roots.
philippine greater nurses Association of gc
PNAGC is a nonprofit nurses organization that promotes diversity , unity in our nursing profession .We are dancing the tribal malong dance from the Maranao . Costumes designed by Tata Blas Pinuela ( Ilonggo based designer )
lane tech Kapamilya
We are Lane Tech’s Filipino Club, also known as Kapamilya Habang Buhay, or KHB for short. We are a cultural dance group that represents the Philippines, we perform in Lane’s International Days as well as various other events all around the Chicagoland area! Through performing historical cultural dances, like Tinikling and Bangko, we love spreading the Filipino culture around the city!
