MABUHAY PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE AUGUST 23 & 24

TORONTO, ON – The heart of the city will come alive as the Mabuhay Philippine Festival, presented by the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), returns for its 27th year at Nathan Phillips Square on August 23–24, 2025. As Toronto’s longest-running Filipino festival, Mabuhay Festival is a vibrant celebration of the creativity, resilience, and cultural heritage of the Filipino-Canadian community through fashion, music, street-food, visual art, film and artisanal crafts. This year’s theme, Bayanihan: Where Community Connects, sets the tone for a weekend that honours collective strength, cultural pride, and shared stories.

One of this year’s most anticipated features is Filipino world-class fashion designer Francis Libiran, who is known for blending intricate Filipino craftsmanship with modern haute couture. His work has been showcased at the Paris Olympics and on global runways and red carpets, worn by celebrities including Darren Criss, Gwen Stefani, Priyanka Chopra, and numerous Miss Universe titleholders. At Mabuhay Festival, Libiran will debut an exclusive collection celebrating Filipino identity and excellence in global fashion – on an evening catwalk hovering over the reflecting pool in front of the iconic Toronto sign.

New to this year’s programming is the Mabuhay Arts & Film Exhibition, a week-long cultural experience hosted at Toronto City Hall from August 18 to 23, 2025, open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM in the foyer and Council Chambers. This indoor exhibit invites audiences to explore Filipino-Canadian identity through visual storytelling and film.

The curated exhibit will feature works by Filipino-Canadian alumni from OCAD University. On August 23, the Toronto City Council Chambers will host SINÉ Institute’s 48-Hour Film Challenge finalist screenings, along with a special showing of “A Will to Dream”, a feature-length film by award-winning docu-filmmaker Patrick Alcedo on resilience and cultural identity in marginalized communities through dance.

“This year’s expanded programming allows us to share deeper, more personal stories of Bayanihan — of connection — from within our community.” says Tom Tan, President of PIDC. “From the fashion runway to gallery walls to food, music and film, we’re celebrating how Filipino-Canadians continue to shape culture here in Canada and around the world, highlighting our creativity, resilience, and pride. We invite everyone in Toronto and beyond to join us in this celebration of unity and the shared spirit of Bayanihan.”

The Mabuhay Philippine Festival is free to attend and welcomes all communities to join in this celebration of Filipino heritage, creativity, and pride — through this year’s theme of “Bayanihan: Where Community Connects,”