I went to the Philippine Expo for the first time on November 30 with my husband, and honestly, I did not really know what to expect before going there. I had heard about it before and had seen plenty of ads in the past few years on Facebook, but this was my first time actually going. My husband and I decided to check it out together since we were both off from work, and it was held at Yoyogi Park, which was only about 2 hours away from our home.

The moment we arrived, the first thing that hit me was the huge crowd.

It was jam packed, almost like dropping a needle in a haystack. And not just busy in a casual way, but truly crowded. There were so many Filipinos, probably coming from all over the Kanto area and maybe even beyond the Kanto prefectures. It felt like the entire Yoyogi park had transformed into a small slice of the Philippines for the weekend, like it almost feels like I was transported back home. Everywhere you looked, there were people lining up, chatting, laughing, and carrying plates of food in one hand.

The number of stalls and kiosks was honestly impressive. There were hundreds of them, each run by Filipinos selling all kinds of food and products. Food was clearly the main attraction and you could smell barbecue smoke in the air, mixed with the sweet scent of desserts like leche flan and fried snacks like inasal barbecue. There were stalls selling traditional coconut juice, lechon, different kinds of Filipino barbecue, and a wide variety of desserts like leche flan and other sweets you usually miss when living abroad. Every line was long, with some stalls easily needing 30-minute waits or more, and even after ordering, you still had to wait while they cooked the food fresh.

One thing I noticed right away was the lack of trash cans. It was a bit difficult to find a place to throw things away, especially when you are juggling food, drinks, and bags and packs of containers with leftovers. Fortunately, most stalls allowed you to return your used containers to them, and they would dispose of everything properly. It was not the most convenient setup, but people seemed to understand and cooperate so as not to cause issues in the future Philippine expos.

What was interesting to see was how diverse the crowd was. Of course, there were primarily Filipinos, but I also saw a lot of Japanese people and foreign visitors. Some were clearly there with Filipino friends or partners, while others seemed genuinely curious about the food, music, and performances. It felt nice to see so many people interested in Filipino culture, not just the community itself and I was happy that more people are starting to appreciate Filipino food and culture.

Aside from food, there were also many booths related to services and businesses. I saw real estate companies doing pre-selling, remittance centers advertising their services and promos, and various financial services. There were familiar names and logos, including banks and mobile service providers. Having these booths was a no-brainer, considering how many overseas Filipinos rely on remittance services and property investments back home to help support their families.

Entertainment was another big part of the Expo. There was a karaoke area around the area, and a large main stage where performances were happening throughout the day. The stage performances really highlighted a lot of the unique aspects of Filipino traditions showing many performers who wore traditional Filipino outfits, and some dancers even looked like they had stepped straight out of the Masskara Festival, complete with face paint and powerful, energetic movements while moving according to the beat of the drums. Others performed more traditional dances, showcasing different regions and styles. The weather also worked in our favor. It was not too cold that day, which made standing outside for long periods much more comfortable. People were sitting wherever they could find space, on benches, on the ground, or at small tables, just enjoying their food and watching the crowd go by.