Congratulations to the four winners of our first Filipino American History Month Photo Contest. We were impressed with the photographs and the wonderful descriptions that explained the significance of the photographs to the community. You can view all of the submissions in our photo gallery.

Winners

Filipino American Community

Mahjong

Playing Mahjong is part of Chinese influence to Filipinos. It is a tile game that some Filipinos like to play. In the Philippines, playing cards and tile games are played when Filipinos attended wake or to have fun with friends. In the US, Filipinos play mahjong during parties.

Photographer: Athena Brassette of Filipino American Association of St. Tammany

The Dancers

Traditional Dance at Filipino Association of Acadiana fiesta, Sept. 2016.

Location: Duson, LA

Submitted by Gregory Leblanc of Filipino Association of Acadiana

Filipinos at Work

The Hidden Ingredient

Chef Crispin Pasia, a local Filipino Chef, shows the beautiful and mouth watering dish that is a Louisiana Shrimp Po-Boy along side a painting with his life long friend and colleague, Chef Paul Prudhomme. It is a representation of how very different cultures can come together to create flavorful dishes.

The man in the picture is Chef Crispin Pasia. He was not only named as one of the top chefs in Louisiana 2016 but also is worked along side Chef Paul Prudhomme. Chef Crispin Pasia has helped establish many restaurants all around the world. Now he is back in Louisiana, Chef Crispin Pasia is introducing to New Orleans Filipino Cuisine.

Location: CK’s Hot Shoppe, 1433 Baronne St, New Orleans, LA

Photographer: Gil Angelo Anfone

Filipino Louisiana Food

Boodle Fight

A boodle is a very large collection of food that comes on banana leaves. The bottom layer is usually white rice on top of which can be fish, shrimp, crab, squid, clam, eggplant, bagoong, salted duck eggs, lato (seaweed), and slices of green mangoes, etc. In a boodle arrangement, diners eat with their fingers. It is strictly hands only — no spoons, forks, or knives.

This type of meal has its roots in the Philippine military’s style of eating in which soldiers, regardless of rank or position, dine together on food spread out on banana leaves. For soldiers, as well as groups of friends, families and office mates, the boodle fight symbolizes camaraderie and equality in the enjoyment of lots and lots of food.

The members of the Holy Family Crusaders of USA celebrated Father’s Day 2016 aka Boodle Fight. We enjoyed Filipino dishes prepared by each family such as pork barbecue, pancit, grilled shrimp, squid and pork, kinilaw (ceviche- raw seafood with vinegar), fried eggplant, salted egg with tomatoes and a lot more. It was such a memorable and fun day to get together as a family.

Location: Denham Springs, LA

Submitted by Karen Banga for Holy Family Crusaders of USA in Baton Rouge.