Raphael and Pateet: PAHIYAS FESTIVAL 2014

I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of a special event held at the BYU-Hawaii Club Dining Facility. Every year, the BYU-Hawaii Food Services enter the National Association of Colleges and Universities Food Services Special Event Competition and every year they win. I was given a great task this year to think of the concept and culture that we should do for this year's competition. What better way to do this special event than to present your own culture!
Last March 25, 2014, the BYU-Hawaii Food Services held a special event entitled, "Pahiyas Festival." Pahiyas Festival is just one of the many many many festivals that we have in the Philippines. Pahiyas Festival is also called Harvest Festival. The locals in the Quezon province celebrate their bountiful harvest by decorating their homes with their harvest. This tradition has become famous that tourists around the world come and celebrate with them.
For the Special Event-Category, we decided to do Pahiyas Festival as the official entry of BYU-H in this year's NACUFS competition. We started preparing around November 2013 for the festival. We worked with DVA-XOO club spearheaded by Rj Gualberto and the BYU-Hawaii Philippines Student Chapter spearheaded by Warren Trinidad. A lot of brainstorming, designing, planning, preparing and decorating were spent to make this event happen. There were days when I stay at the cafeteria along with other students and workers to decorate and design and we will stay until 12 midnight.
The event was indeed a success. I've never seen the cafeteria super packed before until that day. Locals came to the BYU-H cafeteria to celebrate, enjoy, and eat with us. Students around the globe got to experience what its like to celebrate a festival in the Philippines.
I am extremely grateful to be a part of this special event. I am very blessed with the opportunity to share my culture and my home to people around the globe. I was so happy and overwhelmed with the support of my friends as we prepare this event. Truly, it was an event that everyone will never forget.