PHOTOS: Victoria's Mabuhay celebrates Filipino food, culture and traditions
Published 5:00 pm Sunday, June 14, 2026
It was during his circumnavigation of the globe that Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, sailing under the Spanish flag, reached what is now the Philippines in 1521.
Seeking to expand its lucrative spice trade, Spain colonized the Pacific archipelago more than four decades later in 1565. Its rule lasted more than 300 years until the Philippine Revolution began in 1896. Two years later, Spain lost the Spanish-American War and ceded the Philippines to the United States under the Treaty of Paris.
The Philippines later gained full independence in 1946, following U.S. recognition after the Second World War.
Since then, Filipino communities across the globe have marked Filipino Heritage Month in June, with Victoria's community no exception.
With more than 8,500 members on South Island, Victoria's Filipino community marked the occasion with a two-day cultural festival at Centennial Square on June 13 and 14.
Now in its ninth year, the Mabuhay Festival is organized by the Bayanihan Cultural Housing Society, the Victoria Filipino Canadian Association, the Victoria Filipino Caregivers Association and the Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors Association.
The festival featured 64 booths showcasing the best of Philippine culture, said event organizer Francis Matheu.
“It's a food market, a music festival and a bazaar all rolled into one big event,†he said.
The event featured many Filipino staples such as lechon – a roasted pork dish – along with live entertainment, cultural performances, local vendors and community exhibitors. Matheu said the festival was meant not only for the Filipino community, but also to share culture more broadly.
“It's a way to showcase and celebrate Filipino culture. But we're also doing this, not just for the Filipino people, but to introduce our culture to other cultures, because Canada is a multicultural country,†he said.
While the festival served mainly as a cultural celebration, it also functioned as a fundraiser for the Bayanihan Cultural Housing Society's plan to build a long-awaited cultural centre. The society is currently located at 1709 Blanshard St., and has been raising funds over the past year for a new home.
Organizers are hoping to break ground in 2031, and said proceeds from Mabuhay will help support that goal.
For more information or to donate, visit bayanihan.ca.
