New Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) Hundreds of Filipinos of Ilocano lineage gathered in New Taipei on Sunday to celebrate Christmas in a festive atmosphere with the support of leaders of a major Ilocano association who were visiting Taiwan.
A big part of the festivities were dance, music, and rap performances and an unconventional beauty pageant for men dressed as women that captivated the roughly 500 Filipinos, most migrant workers of Ilocano descent, on hand.
In the "Ang Brad Kong Beauty Season 3" competition, as it was called, 13 contestants strutted their stuff in their casual, swimsuit, and evening gown attire and gave solo talent performances to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.
Each contestant represented a subchapter of the event's organizer, the Taiwan chapter of the Confederation of Ilocano Association, Incorporated, Samahang Ilokano (CIASI), and the pageant reflected the unity and camaraderie that went into organizing the event, Jacqueline Reyes, CIASI international sorority president, told CNA.
The grand winner of the pageant, 28-year-old Allen Guevara, from the CIASI Taiwan chapter from Gangshan, Kaohsiung told CNA he needed three months to prepare for the competition, and had help from his "brothers" and "sisters" to find his dresses, makeup and wigs.
Ang Brad Kong Beauty Season 3 grand winner Allen Guevara (fourth left). CNA photo Dec. 19, 2022
The event, held at a community activity center in Banqiao District in New Taipei, opened with remarks from top CIASI brass, including Reyes, who came to Taiwan for the celebration.
She encouraged the organization's members to save money for their future.
"OFWs go abroad because they want to elevate the status [conditions] of their families. So while you're abroad, don't give everything back home. You must save some money for yourself and prepare for the future when you go back home," said Reyes, who was visiting Taiwan for the fifth time.
CIASI founder and international chairman Julius Magno, who was in Taiwan on his ninth visit, said he hoped Filipinos could become a more integral part of Taiwanese society.
He urged CIASI members to try to make friends and build connections with Taiwanese people, especially those in the business community, and not isolate themselves by only interacting with Filipinos.
The Ilocanos are one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines and trace their origins to the provinces along the northwestern seaboard of Luzon.
Since CIASI was established in the 1970s, its membership around the world has grown to over 1 million in 920 chapters, according to Reyes.
In Taiwan, it has 15 sub-chapters, including a sorority chapter with approximately 750 members, CIASI Taiwan National Chairman Emerson Santiago said.
The organization takes pride in organizing sports and charity events for those in need, while providing support to its members and other Filipinos, who are in the Philippines or work abroad.
