The 35th Grand Philippine Fiesta Kultura delivered a truly uplifting celebration of Filipino culture and entertainment to Sydneysiders, international, and interstate visitors, featuring a live Eat Bulaga show, as well as the Miss and Little Philippine Australia pageants, held on October 5, 2025, at the Fairfield Showground, Prairiewood, NSW.
Dubbed “Sugod Sydney,” the event marked the first-ever Sydney appearance of Eat Bulaga! hosts Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and the Dabarkads team, who brought their popular noontime show segments live on stage—uniting the Filipino community in laughter, nostalgia, and pride.
The festival opened with a Filipino community parade featuring cultural performances, food stalls, and pageants – showcasing the rich heritage and traditions of the Philippines.
The Philippine Times, led by Editor-in-Chief Jason Cordi, covered the highlights of the event, including the Eat Bulaga! live show, a media meet-and-greet with the hosts, the Miss and Little Philippines Australia pageants (with Cordi serving as one of the judges), cultural performances, and food stalls organised by the Philippine Australian Sports & Culture Inc.
The 2025 Grand Fiesta Kultura pageant winners were Ella Evangelista, crowned Miss Philippines Australia 2025, and Rachel Bernabe, crowned Charity Queen Australia 2025.
Little Miss Philippines Australia 2025 was Marika Zafirakopoulos, with Sophia Goncalves as runner-up. Amelia Padilla was named Little Miss Charity Queen, and Marika Zafirakopoulos also received the title of Little Miss Charity Princess.
Raffle prizes were awarded to Mylene Abella (First Prize – $10,000), Medelyn Kelly (Second Prize – Philippine Airlines ticket + $500), and Vivian Fernandez (Second PAL Ticket).
Philippine Australian Sports & Culture Inc. (PASC Inc.), under the leadership of President Marivic Ayap Flores, deserves recognition for organising the 35th Grand Philippine Fiesta Kultura. This event stands as Australia’s largest and longest-running Filipino cultural festival, held last Sunday, 5 October 2025, at the Fairfield Showground in Sydney, NSW.
Stall awards were presented to Panlasang Pinoy (Best Presented Stall), Remitly (Most Creative and Innovative Stall), and JM Online (Best Authentic Philippine Motif). These awards recognised excellence in presentation and cultural authenticity among festival exhibitors.
It was a day celebrating Filipino culture with funfare, music, dance, pageantry and costumes, handicraft displays and food and goods stalls and camaraderie.
More photos by Bob Reyes are available here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/raFb42ybyXNPuUDo6
