Summer Begins Strong with Barrio Fiesta 2026

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, June 20th, UPAA-Wisconsin members, friends, and special guests gathered once again at Dr. Joey Abad Santos’ home in Greendale for the annual Barrio Fiesta. For UPAA-W, this event marks the start of the summer season in Wisconsin and serves as a celebration for members who have birthdays in June.

This year’s celebrants in attendance included Ito Conti, Beaver Flores, Andrew Luy, Cream Pepito, Alvin Yang, and, of course, our host Dr. Joey and his daughter, Ellen. To honor the occasion, Dr. Volette Singson and Dr. Pons Salud brought a decadent ube (purple yam) cake, which was a delicious finale to a spread of flavorful Filipino dishes shared by members for lunch.

One of the highlights of Barrio Fiesta is the friendly cooking competition, where members showcase their culinary talents by entering their potluck contributions, which are all laid out on a fantastic buffet table spread. After everyone has eaten, guests vote for their favorite dishes. This year’s winners were:

• First place: Beaver Flores, for his pulled pork adobo sliders (who promised to share the recipe—click here to access)
• Second place: Dr. Carol Conti, for her sisig (with assistance from Mark Conti)
• Third place: Dexter Rebancos, for his Bicol Express

Each winner received a goodie bag filled with Filipino products from Seafood City in Chicago.

Of course, many other dishes on the table were just as impressive and deserving of recognition. The buffet featured a wide variety of classic favorites and newer culinary creations, including cheesy baked tahong (mussels), pinakbet (mixed vegetable stew), chicken barbecue, kare-kare (oxtail stew in peanut sauce), baked branzino, gochujang chicken, and binagoongang baboy (pork cooked with shrimp paste)—to name just a few!

As always, members of the Filipinx American Students Organization (FASO) of UW–Madison joined the celebration and added to the lively atmosphere. Throughout the afternoon, guests enjoyed backyard games, delicious food and desserts, and meaningful conversations as they caught up with one another.

To cap the festivities, members and guests gathered for a group photo in the Abad Santos’ backyard. The event was well attended, with more than 50 participants, including UPAA-W members, their families, and invited guests.

Barrio Fiesta continues to be a cherished tradition and will no doubt carry on for years to come. It is truly a joyful, festive, and flavorful way to welcome the summer season, the best way UPAA-W knows how. Until next year!

Photo credits to Joey Abad Santos and Max Masocol