Dear FiliFest Community,
We are writing to inform you of the postponement of our upcoming Festival. FiliFest and UCL Filipino Society send our deepest regret and apology for the inconvenience this may have caused you.
The Situation at the Main Quad
We were recently notified of an encampment happening at our initial venue at UCL Main Quad. UCL, Student’s Union UCL, UCL Filipino Society and FiliFest all respect the peaceful protest by UCL students and staff in relation to the happenings at Gaza. The encampment has no definitive end date, and although we are grateful to the students and protesters for being willing to share the space with us, we still worry for the safety and security of everyone.
Furthermore, any event that involves large-scale structures including our FiliFest stage is not possible to safely set up around the protest location. External rallies outside the gates of the Main Quad also pose further safety risks with UCL Security on alert making access to the venue difficult. This compromises the openness and welcoming atmosphere the FiliFest Festival aims to create.
Hence, with advice from SU UCL and UCL FilSoc, and guidance from UCL, we have been considering alternative venues for the Festival.
#FILIFEST2024 Festival: Postponed to a later date
In light of this, we searched for potential venues and managed to secure a new location for the FiliFest Festival. However, the relocation to a different venue comes with new logistical considerations. To ensure compliance to the regulations of the new venue, and the community around it, we have decided to take our time in ensuring we are well-prepared to welcome you to a bigger and grander FiliFest Festival.
This decision was not made lightly, but we believe it is in the best interest of all stakeholders to ensure a successful and enjoyable experience.
Note: The FiliFest All-Star Games is not affected by this decision. We will see you at Brunel University Sports Centre on the 14th of June!
If you are interested in getting involved with planning for the FiliFest Festival, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Drop us a DM or email us on [email protected].
Our Thanks
We would like to extend our thanks to UCL Student Union and UCL Filipino Society - especially UCL FilSoc President Sammy and Treasurer Brenadette - for their enthusiasm and hard work in ensuring the FiliFest Festival finds its new home. FiliFest and UCL Filipino Society will continue to work to deliver a Festival that is by the young people, for the young people, to celebrate our love for the Filipino culture.
To our sponsors and vendors, we thank you for your understanding and continued support. We apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused. We hope you can continue to be part of #FILIFEST2024.
To our performers, hosts, models, Volunteers, Committee members, and all the Filipino Societies in the UK who have been looking forward to the Festival, thank you for your understanding, efforts and love for the culture. We know that most of you have planned your travels and calendars around the Festival, we sincerely hope to continue working with you all. We appreciate you.
To our vibrant Community, your support and understanding at this time means a lot to us. We hope to address you with a new ‘Save the Date’ invite!
Sending our sincerest regards,
Rica Go
Founder
Chairperson of FiliFest
Nicole Baro
Chief Executive Officer
Head of Media and Marketing, FiliFest Festival