“This is a celebration of joy, of culture, and of connection. And now, more than ever, we need that,” said Micah Lacson, president of the Filipino Cultural Society of Nova Scotia, as the community prepares for this year’s Philippine Fiesta Halifax.
Lacson, now in her fourth year as president and fifth year with the organization, beams with pride as she talks about the two-day event returning to Garrison Grounds on June 21 and 22. Set during Philippine Heritage Month in Canada, the Fiesta has grown into one of Halifax’s top summer events, celebrating Filipino-Canadian heritage through music, dance, food, and fashion.
The fiesta’s celebrations kick off on June 12 with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall. The next event is Mahjog Night. The goal is to celebrate culture with a game that is played at most functions. Mahjong or mah-jongg is a tile-based game,“which will be hosted by the Mahj Social Club.” Lacson invites both seasoned and first-timers to join in.
This year’s celebration carries a deeper emotional weight.
Tragedy struck the Filipino community across the country when a vehicle was deliberately driven into a crowd at the Vancouver Filipino Street Festival, killing 11 people, including a five-year-old child, and injuring several more. Victims ranged in age from five to 65.
“It was so upsetting—it was crazy to me,” Lacson said, her voice shaking. “Violence is never the answer. We need to talk about mental health. We need to seek help. That’s why we’re taking all precautions here in Halifax—we have security, and the event is fenced. We want people to feel safe, to feel seen.”
While the Vancouver attack has sent shockwaves through the Filipino diaspora in Canada, the message from the Halifax community is one of strength, unity, and healing. This year’s fiesta is not only a celebration—it’s a statement.
“We cannot be immigrants without a heart,” said Melanie Mendez Munden, a multi-disciplinary artist and long-time advocate for youth mental health. This year, for the first time, Munden and her family will host a booth at the Fiesta, thanks to a donation from her husband.
Munden said that her brand KeiKaiKoa is excited to announce that they will be selling their preloved clothing and shoes. “All proceeds will be donated to Miss Philippines Atlantic-Canada, Larryl Ybanez. This will go towards supporting her advocacy for youth mental health.”
“We’ve never done a booth before because everything we do is nonprofit, usually around anti-bullying and youth support,” she explains. My son Kaidin, has faced bullying. Supporting youth mental health is not optional—it’s necessary, said Munden.
She has teamed up with local photographer Ish Aquino to bring a community-focused approach that highlights resilience and identity among Filipino youth in a campaign featuring local models and Ybanez. The goal is to create a space of empowerment and solidarity through art.
“We’ve lived in Canada for nearly 40 years. We’ve always celebrated our culture, but this year, we do it loudly, with pride,” Munden said. “We are resilient. We are caring. We are a community that shows up.”
The Philippine Fiesta Halifax will feature 15 Filipino food vendors, 15 local businesses, and a full slate of cultural performances, traditional games, and family-friendly activities. Day one will focus on cultural expression, while the second day leans into celebration and dance, fashion and performances.
The event holds a special spot for Halifax-based model and student Precious Kleira Mensavilla, who moved to Canada from the Philippines at age 10.
“Community is everything in my culture,” she shares. “Here, a lot of people are very independent, but back home, we support one another. Moving here, I got homesick — until I found our people. Then it felt like home again.”
Now a rising model, Mensavilla uses her platform to challenge colourism and elevate Filipino visibility in the fashion industry.
“Growing up, there wasn’t a lot of representation,” she said. “I wanted to become what I needed as a kid. Whitening products were so common, and I used to feel anxious about my brown skin. But when I moved here and saw diversity, I started embracing my culture — and my skin — and that gave me the confidence to be who I am today. I’m doing this for the younger version of me.”
The fashion show is set to be one of the highlight events of the celebration. The goal is to showcase the culture and traditional outfits to the community in Halifax.
“We want everyone to come rain or shine,” Lacson added. “Our goal is to build a more inclusive and connected Halifax. We are here, and we are proud.”
This article appears in Jun 1-30, 2025.