By Ellen Rodriguez-Swing

CERRITOS, Calif. — Even scorching 103-degree heat could not stop thousands from celebrating Filipino food, culture and community as the second FAHM UbeFest returned to the grounds of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on October 3 and 4, 2026.

Despite the extreme heat, organizers estimated that approximately 40,000 people attended throughout the weekend, reinforcing UbeFest’s growing reputation as one of Southern California’s largest Filipino food and cultural festivals and an annual Filipino American History Month tradition in the region.

“We are proud that Cerritos can host a celebration of this scale and welcome thousands of people to experience Filipino food, culture and community,” said Mayor Lynda Provido Johnson, Cerritos’ first Filipina mayor. “Events like UbeFest bring people together, support our local businesses and showcase the diversity that makes Cerritos and the region such a special community.”

Presented by UbeFest LLC in collaboration with the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Cerritos and Gateway Cities (FAC3), the two-day festival brought together food vendors, small businesses and community organizations, offering an array of Filipino-inspired specialties.

UbeFest LLC has continued to expand its community festival presence in the region, including the successful launch of its first MangoFest earlier this year. FAC3 has remained its community partner in bringing large-scale cultural celebrations to Cerritos.

The festivities will continue with a Christmas-themed UbeFest on December 20, 2026, promising another colorful celebration of Filipino food, culture and community. Additional details will be announced.

A familiar crowd favorite also returned: the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) jeepney, which served as a colorful symbol of Filipino heritage and a popular photo stop for festivalgoers.

With triple-digit temperatures expected, organizers took extra precautions to prioritize public safety throughout the weekend. Healthcare professionals from the Philippine Nurses Association of Southern California (PNASC), led by President Sasha Rarang and Vice President Roselyn F. Arciaga, together with Kalayaan Incorporated, led by President Marie Navarro, served as on-site first-aid responders and offered free blood pressure checks to attendees.

Those preparations proved especially important as temperatures climbed to 103 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, October 3.

Now in its second consecutive year as part of Cerritos’ Filipino American History Month celebration, FAHM UbeFest is quickly becoming more than a festival — it is becoming a regional tradition and a celebration of Filipino pride.

With an estimated 40,000 attendees over two days, the festival demonstrated that even triple-digit temperatures could not dampen the community’s enthusiasm for Filipino food, culture and heritage. Another UbeFest celebration is scheduled for December, this time with a Christmas theme.