Philippine Concert King Martin Nievera performs during the TFC Happy Hour before thousands that trooped to the Barrio Fiesta London 2024
LONDON, August 6, 2024 - ABS-CBN's TFC's summer of fun on its 30th anniversary continues to sizzle with high energy, topnotch live performances, pride in Filipino culture and heritage, and an enthusiastic community spirit!
TFC and the Philippine Centre of U.K. joined hands anew for the milestone 40th Barrio Fiesta London held last July 21 at the Apps Court Farm near Hampton Court Palace. This year, it solidified its claim as the biggest annual outdoor Filipino festival in the entire U.K. Thousands trooped to Apps Court Farm to take part in the lively day-long festivities.
Guided by the spirit of samahan (working together) and damayan (supporting one another), Barrio Fiesta London rolled out a celebration that intermeshed the unique Filipino identity with inclusivity, diversity and camaraderie in London's multicultural landscape.
Barrio Fiesta London 2024 was a major comeback supported by more than 36 community partners and organizations that performed during the parade. This was led by Ambassador of the Philippines to the U.K. Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr., Chairman of Philippine Centre and Barrio Fiesta sa London Hermano Mayor Joseph Pariñas, ABS-CBN Global COO and Managing Director for North and Latin America (NOLA) Jun Del Rosario and ABS-CBN Global Head of Events and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Joseph Arnie Garcia.
TFC brought a stellar line-up for the live main entertainment with Philippine Concert King Martin Nievera, Ultimate Heartthrob Piolo Pascual, and the better half of the popular young loveteam, DonBelle - Belle Mariano.
Catch the colors and flavors of Barrio Fiesta London 2024 as they wrapped up another historic year for the global Filipinos:
Prior to the outdoor fiesta, a formal gala was held attended by special guests led by Philippine Ambassador to the U.K. Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. with ABS-CBN executives, Kapamilya star performers, Philippine Centre officers and supporters in attendance. The Philippine Centre’s Barrio Fiesta sa London Charity Gala aims to support the education of ethnic minorities in the far-flung areas in the Philippines and promote the Filipino culture and heritage such as learning of the Filipino language among the children in the UK.
The Barrio Fiesta Grand Parade that kicked off the program proper is a vision to behold with the colorful costumes representing the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines.
Many active Filipino organizations in the U.K. represent enthusiastically at the grand parade opening.
Attendees have fun taking souvenir shots at the huge signage markers in the vast fields of Apps Court Farm.
Boldly representing Philippine comic superheroes, one fan dressed up as the legendary Darna, a Filipino comic character created by Mars Ravelo and rendered by Nestor Redondo. In 2023, Belle Mariano won praises for dressing up as Darna at the Shake, Rattle and Ball: The Alamat Exhibition Gala of the Philippine National Museum of Anthropology.
Local performers astound the audience with a highly creative fusion of classical and modern music while attired in contemporary costumes with Filipino tribal accents.
Fans of Belle Mariano eagerly wait with their visual greetings for their idol.
Belle Mariano, recently bestowed with the Listeners' Choice Award at the inaugural Billboard Philippines Women in Music for her ballad, "Bugumbilya" (Bougainvillea) wows fans in London with her live performance.
Philippine Concert King and TFC's First Celebrity Ambassador Martin Nievera enthralls the crowd with his long list of timeless hits, always delivered with gusto and perfect feels.
Ultimate Heartthrob Piolo Pascual has fans swooning anew over his looks, style and onstage charisma. 
The Ultimate Heartthrob and the Concert King pump up the crowd with a fun duet on stage.
Piolo, Belle and Martin wrap up the fun-tastic TFC Hour, a major highlight of Barrio Fiesta London 2024.
Posing for posterity after the successful TFC Happy Hour are, from left, co-host Christa Borja, Martin Nievera, ABS-CBN Global COO and NOLA Managing Director Jun Del Rosario, Belle Mariano, Piolo Pascual, ABS-CBN Global Head of Events and EMEA Managing Director Joseph Arnie Garcia, and ABS-CBN EMEA Marketing Head Audielyn Avecilla-Riola. At the back row from left are ABS-CBN EMEA Sales and Business Development Head Luis Bariuan and co-host Ron Sayson.
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