Yes,  The Filipino American Network will have its first ever “Potluck Picnic”- “Adobo Taste-off”- “Fiesta” the 1^st Saturday of September, 2008, on the Northwest side of Chicago!

Adobofest 2008 will be held at the LaBagh Woods, Cook County Forest Preserve, in Chicago at Foster and Cicero, Grove #3.  Enter at 5300 North Cicero.

http://www.fpdcc.com/downloads/labagh_woods_pg.pdf

FAN is providing free ice and cooked rice for up to 200 people, but the picnic portion is potluck — so please “bring your own food and drink”.  Adobofest is free and open to the public! 

Throughout the day, there will be events for all ages and skill sets. Some are free, while others request a donation.  Collected donations will benefit FAN’s annual Chicago Filipino American Film Festival (www. CFAFF.org) and our partner, Believe International (www.believeinternational.org), a non-profit organization, a 501c(3) charity which raises funds for the education and development of in-need students in the Philippines.

The following activities are confirmed

• Pinoy children’s story telling

-         Free for children of all ages!

-         Led by Filipino American Network’s Portia Sarmiento Guerin

• Business Card Zingo –  Combined with a structured business card exchange, each participant gets  a chance to pitch his or her business and the type of contact or lead they’re looking for.

-         $10 donation to participate requested.

-         Led by Filipino American Chamber of Commerce  of Greater Chicago (FACCGC) and FAN, Jan Paul Ferrer and Alec Rivera

•  “Drive for show, Chip for Dough”- Chicago’s best short-gamer shoot-out.

-         Engraved trophy goes to the winner!

-         Open to all golfers, any age, all skill levels

-         $3 donation per set to participate requested

-         Led by Filipino American Bar Association (FABA), Ron Almiron

• Live Philippine Martial Arts Demonstrations of  Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali

-         Interactive and educational session with actual weapons and hand-to-hand technical demonstrations

-         Led by the Pamana Initiative: Rommel Panergalin and Oliver Carnate

• Adobofest Logo Design Competition

-         Engraved trophy goes to winner

-         $200 cash prize goes to winning design

-         Open and free to enter to 13-19 year olds

-         Winner is chosen by a Panel of judges

-         Top five designs will be exhibited at the Adobofest

-         Led by FAN’s Service Leadership Committee

• Hataw Pinoy Karaoke Idol

-         Open and free to enter for any Adobofest Attendee
-       First-come-first-serve sign-up at the Adobofest
-         Entrants can pick their song from the DJ’s selection
-         Three competing age groups / categories:

§         3 contestants, 7-13 yrs old – Bulilit Karaoke Idol
§         5 contestants,14-49 yrs old – Pinoy Karaoke Idol
§         3 contestants, 50 and older – Golden Karaoke Idol

-         Audience members will vote on and pick the winner from each category
-         Each category winner will receive prizes, a trophy and a later appearance on Hataw Pinoy Chicago

• “Adobofest 2008 Adobo Fund-raising Champion”

-         Beautiful, original design, engraved trophy goes to winner

-         Recognition goes to the Adobo enthusiast who gets the most attendees to donate money, “buy tickets / votes”, on his or her adobo’s behalf

-         Each vote-ticket is only $2. So the more adobo or friends you bring the better!

-         Led by the Service League Committee (SLC) of FAN

• The Premier Event: Adobo Taste-Off Competition

-         Beautiful, original design, engraved trophy goes to winner

-         Single $200 cash prize to the winner

-         Free and voluntary adobo blind-tasting competition

-         Winner’s submission will be recognized as “Chicago’s Best Tasting Adobo"

-     Judges include:
§         Ron Bilaro, Life…Pinoy Style
§         Janet Fuller, Sun-Times Food Editor
§         Marilyn Santos McNabb, Pastry Chef, Instructor at The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, Le Cordon Bleu Program
§         A few more judges to be announced!

-         Led by Filipino American Network, Life...Pinoy Style with Ron Bilaro,  Rome Nichols