San Diego News

SAN DIEGO, March 27, 2014 – The Filipino Sun Festival will be taking over Mira Mesa Park on April 5, 2014! Presented and hosted by Operation Samahan, the Filipino Sun Festival is sponsored by title sponsors United Domestic Workers of America and 2 Brothers Construction, and produced by Silk Road Productions, the first Filipino Sun Festival will be the next exciting thing to happen in the Mira Mesa community!

In addition to the cultural performances by Samahan Dance Company and PASACAT, headlining acts will include YouTube sensation AJ Rafael and up and coming artists such as American Idol contestant Marvin Calderon, Amy Monzon, Rob Grimes, the Jazmin Sisters, Jason Diego, and Domi Young.

Stay hungry for the Art of Food, a culinary pavilion run by Joanne and Rex Rullan of Cooking 4 life, where they will provide demonstrations on how to cook Filipino food. Also look forward to Body Language, a tattoo pavilion that will teach the history of Filipino Tattoos and how it affected Filipino Culture.  And Samahan Dance Company will be integrating a fun and educational cultural exhibition into our festival.

You can experience all of this and more from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on April 5, 2014! More information and updates, as well as how to be a vendor, performer or volunteer at the Filipino Sun Festival can be found by visiting www.filipninosunfestival.com.

Operation Samahan is a community health center that emerged within the Filipino community over the last 40 years and serves low-income families and individuals in the County of San Diego in two locations within National City and Mira Mesa.

The Filipino Sun Festival is also sponsored by organizations such as The Council of Philippine American Organization (COPAO), Children’s Dentistry of San Diego, PST Gear, Asian Journal, Filipino Press, Philippines & Asian Report, Inquirer.net and Mira Mesa Living.

Have Trunk Will Travel decides to bow out.

(DEL MAR, CA) MARCH 27, 2014 -   Have Trunk Will Travel, the organization who provided elephants for display, education and rides at the San Diego County Fair, announced today they will not be returning to the 2014 San Diego County Fair, presented by Albertsons/Sav-on. This follows a successful engagement at the 2013 San Diego County Fair, including the San Diego community donating over $5,000 toward Asian Elephant conservation and embracing the "Save A Species - Ride An Elephant" campaign.

For the past 30 years Have Trunk Will Travel has been a part of the San Diego County Fair bringing joy to hundreds of thousands of families and providing an opportunity to see and learn about the plight of the endangered Asian Elephants.  Kari and Gary Johnson of Have Trunk Will Travel informed the 22nd District Agricultural Association of their decision this afternoon, “We were surprised at the news we received from the Johnsons not to return to the Fair this year, but respect their decision,” stated Frederick Schenk, President the 22nd DAA.  “Having the elephants at the Fair has been a valuable tool in educating the public of the plight of the Asian Elephant, which includes the threat of extinction because of the ongoing destruction of their native habitat, slaughter and the deadly herpes virus that kills baby elephants.  Have Truck Will Travel has an unprecedented conservation program, and an exceptional reputation in the industry.  While the presence of the elephants has drawn controversy and criticism from those who oppose elephant rides, this decision will mean that the over 1.5 million visitors to the annual Fair, will no longer have the opportunity to appreciate and experience these magnificent gentle creatures at the Fairgrounds,” added Schenk.

About the Del Mar Fairgrounds
The 22nd District Agricultural Association is a State of California agency that owns and operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Surfside Race Place, Horsepark Equestrian Center and the Del Mar Golf Center. The 22nd DAA produces four events each year: the San Diego County Fair, the Del Mar National Horse Show, Professional Bull Riding (PBR) and The Scream Zone. The Fairgrounds hosts more than 350 events annually, the largest of which is the live horse racing meet each summer and fall, which is operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for the 22nd DAA and the State of California. For more information on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, visit www.delmarfairgrounds.com.