The east coast’s biggest Filipino and multicultural indoor expo will revolve around a Total Wellness theme, according to Nanding Mendez, Fiesta In America’s President. Fiesta In America will celebrate its 18th anniversary on August 13 and 14 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. “A Goya Foods, Inc. cooking show based on ancestral diets, a spectacular demo by New Jersey’s top health management organization, free vital-signs screenings and fitness tips are some of the wellness aspects that will benefit our guests,” said Mendez. “Our mission is to support small exporters and Philippine tourism, but we are just as driven by other issues vital to Filipinos, including health.”
ABS-CBN superstars Paulo Avelino and Julia Montes will lead a multicultural roster of cultural show performers. Fans will have a chance to meet the teleserye prince and princess up-close at a “meet-and-greet” session. As a special treat, seniors aged 62-and-over can avail themselves of free entrance tickets from 12 noon to 1 pm on Saturday, Aug 13 only. Exhibitors from the Philippines and the U.S. will pack the Trade Pavilion with export-quality products, real estate packages, and various services. Regional dishes can be enjoyed at the Food Court, and people of all age groups can take part in fun activities throughout the venue. A solemn Mass and festive Santacruzan will be the highlights on Sunday beginning at 10 am. As a new twist this year, Prof. Eric Soriano, a National Agora Awardee for Excellence in Marketing Education by the Philippine Marketing Association, will conduct a forum on franchising. The forum is designed for heads of family businesses and entrepreneurs on the lookout for investment opportunities.
Major U.S. brands will present distinct wellness modules that embody the Total Wellness concept, said Coy Apostol, Fiesta In America’s Sponsor and Exhibitor Relations Manager. “Goya’s Food Scientist, Meriterese Racanelli, MS, will present a cooking demo using Goya’s low-sodium products as ingredients in traditional Filipino dishes. AARP will promote real possibilities at 50+ years of age, which range from caring for elderly parents to avoiding identity theft. The Hackensack University Medical Center will distribute free two-week passes to their state-of-the-art Corporate Wellness Center. And we are excited by a dazzling interactive demo by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.”
Len Manansala, Fiesta In America’s Vice President for Marketing and Communications, described Horizon BCBSNJ’s presentation as a mix of science and optics. “New Jersey’s premier HMO values cultural sensitivity,” said Manansala, “and they are aware that serious matters such as health education can be more effective with attention-getting devices.” He expects that audience buzz will be created by Horizon BCBSNJ at their Trade Pavilion section, wherein individuals can ride a stationary bike dubbed the Fender Bender. Nemesio Kinsora, Horizon BCBSNJ Sales Executive for Government Programs, explained that the bike is “exclusively designed with an attachable fruit smoothie blender that is powered solely by people pedaling.” The visual impact will be powerful, said Kinsora, and the message will be clear: “Vigorous exercise coupled with the proper diet can be a fast track to good health.”
America’s biggest producer of Hispanic packaged food products, Goya Foods, Inc., will provide a cross-cultural twist to healthy eating as their Total Wellness module. The Secaucus, NJ-based Goya is a strong advocate of returning to ancestral diets as well as the MyPlate Program. MyPlate is part of the federal government’s larger initiative based on Dietary Guidelines that help consumers make better food choices. The health value of ancestral diets – previous generations’ intake of native dishes that are low on salt and preservatives – will be demonstrated by the cooking show and food tasting.
For information on how to take part as visitors, exhibitors, sponsors or advertisers, as well group discounts and how nonprofit groups can boost their fundraising through the expo, please call 212-682-6610, email [email protected], or visit www.fiestainamerica.com. Fiesta In America is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit company.
