The top 5 Filipino events in the UK

Filipinos in the UK work hard to fulfil their dreams and support the people they love. So after all the hours rendered and key performance indicators reached, they deserve to unwind and be surrounded with people who remind them of home.

And with about 200,000 Pinoys in this European country, there are surely a multitude of ways to get together and celebrate.

Here are just some of the events that our community looks forward to in the United Kingdom.

A Catholic tradition celebrated every May, the Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan honour Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

The tradition, introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish Colonial Period, begins with Flores de Mayo and involves month-long prayers and mediations on the Virgin Mary. During this time, devotees present floral offerings to images of the Blessed Virgin.

The month of prayer ends with the Santacruza, a religious procession known for its celebratory Filipino flair and fashion. Organised annually, the precession commemorates St. Helena’s finding of the Holy Cross and assigns a young woman to walk as Reyna Elena, holding a small cross of her own. Walking along with her are other parishioners dressed as biblical figures.

Today, Filipinos in the UK have brought the tradition with them, particularly in Devon and Cornwall.

Since 2011, Filipino Catholics have celebrated Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan in these seaside counties, carrying out the tradition across the UK’s South West, including Plymouth, Dorchester, and Torquay.

In fact, Torquay’s local news site Torbay Today described these Filipino celebrations as a “colourful and ceremonial procession” and “one of the Philippines’ most cherished traditions.”

According to Tinig UK, “The Gloucester Filipino Heritage Day is an annual celebration that highlights the rich culture and traditions of the Filipino community in Gloucester.”

The Filipino Association of Gloucestershire held the very first Filipino Heritage Day in May 2024.

On its second year, the festival highlighted Filipino culinary traditions, musical talent, and our very own martial arts.

The Gloucester Pinoys also time this event with International Nurses Day, which falls on 12 May every year, to honour the Filipinos and other international health workers in the UK.

Filipino sociologist Dr. Gerald Abergos said Pinoys are excited by competitive pageants and sports not because they want to be “in” but because these events foster a sense of belonging, unity, and family.

So when there’s a reason to celebrate and band together, Filipinos will be there.

In the UK, Filipinos gather in these two well-known beauty pageants that take place in London every year.

According to their Facebook page, the pageant is an accredited partner of the Miss Universe Philippines franchise, and winners of Mister and Miss Filipinas Royaltys go on to compete in other pageants  in Europe and the Philippines.

Miss and Mr. Philippines UK is the longest running British Filipino beauty pageant in the UK. Their next big event is slated for October.

Celebrated on 12 June, Philippine Independence Day is a time-honoured tradition for Filipinos around the world.

For the 200,000 Filipinos in the UK, Independence Day celebrations include

• Get-togethers organized by the different Filipino organizations throughout the country – These events include games, music, and—most importantly—food.
• Performances – Filipinos in the UK perform traditional songs, add a modern twist to folk dances, or even invite Pinoy celebrities to commemorate this important date.
• Flags and parades – Where there are large Pinoy populations, like London and Manchester , Filipinos in the UK raise the Philippine flag and parade in cities wearing our traditional attire.
• Mass – On Independence Day, Filipinos in the UK pray for the Philippines and their compatriots.
• Online Independence Day – New technology has allowed Filipinos in the UK to participate in Independence Day celebrations in the Philippines and with their loved ones back home.

Wherever there’s a celebration in the UK, you will find Filipinos. Here is a short (and definitely not exhaustive) list of UK cultural festivals where you may get a taste of Filipino culture.

Held in July, the Pinoy Food Fest is an opportunity for Filipinos in the UK to gather and enjoy the hometown delicacies they miss. There are also opportunities to enjoy live music and to support Pinoy-owned businesses.

While there is no nationwide Filipino Heritage Month in the UK at the moment, Britain’s East and South East Asian Network organizes ESEA Heritage Month every September.

The group curates independently organized events that honour the ESEA community in the UK. For example, Mark Corbyn, co-founder of The Adobros Supper Club, honoured ESEA month 2023 by hosting a summer garden lunch in London that featured the Filipino dishes kinilaw and chicken inasal.

According to beasea.n, the celebration is “a chance to celebrate, acknowledge and learn about the incredible ways in which our communities have helped shape the UK.”

A youth-centered festival held in June, FiliFest gathers young Filipinos in the UK for a day of music, food, performances, and games.

According to the celebration’s official website, “From inception, FiliFest’s mission has always been to bring together youths from across the UK, bound together by their love for the Philippines and to promote Filipino culture.”

The festival also aims to highlight Filipino-owned businesses in the UK and to equip Filipino British youths with the work experience and connections to thrive in the professional world.

There are several Barrio Fiestas in the UK, but the biggest celebration is the London Barrio Fiesta held in July.

The outdoor festival gathers the best Filipino food, businesses, entertainers, and celebrities, making it one of the most important celebrations for Filipinos in the UK.

According to Halo Philippines, “More than just a festival, Barrio Fiesta is a homecoming for many Filipinos living abroad. It’s a chance to reconnect with our roots, share stories, and celebrate our unique culture with others who understand and appreciate it.”

Are you ready to celebrate? Because we are!

Kabayan Remit is a secure money transfer app for Filipinos in the UK, the United States, and Canada. It is available in English, French, and Italian.

Using bank-level security, our app lets Filipinos safely transfer funds from the UK to banks, e-wallets, and cash remittance centres in the Philippines.

With just your phone, you can send savings and love to

• Banco de Oro
• Bank of the Philippine Islands
• Metrobank
• Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
• And more!

Kabayan Remit also helps you transfer funds to e-wallets like:

• GCash
• Maya
• ShopeePay

Prefer quick cash? You can also use the Kabayan Remit app to send money to these Filipino cash remittance centres:

• Cebuana Lhuillier
• LBC Express
• Palawan Pawnshop

Visit our booth at various Barrio Fiesta across the UK to learn how you can use Kabayan Remit to send money to the Philippines, pay your Philippine government contributions, and even grow your investments.

To learn more about Kabayan Remit and try our exchange rate calculator, visit our official website here.

Have more questions? Consult our 24/7 bilingual support team here. We are also available at [email protected] and 020 3474 0999.