Episode 413 - The Fabulous Filipino Brothers and the Barong Tagalog

On this episode of The Halo Halo Podcast,  Jezzie and Sigi feature the movie "The Fabulous Filipino Brothers", directed by Dante Basco and written by Dante and his brothers and sister. This comedy focuses on a Filipino American family in Southern California gathering for a family wedding. The movie highlights snippets of everyday Filipino life like silog in the morning; a loud boisterous multigenerational home; vicks vapo serving as a solution in a pinch and a sumptious wedding food spread. The four linked vignettes put a spotlight on each brother: Dayo, Duke, David and Danny Boy leading up to the wedding. From SoCal to the streets of Manila, this ambitious movie lets you step into this family united by their love for their culture and each other.

 

Later, Jezzie and Sigi shift their discussion onto Filipino formal wear seen at traditional Filipino weddings–the Barong Tagalog. They discuss the origin and significance of this piece of formal wear and retell stories of wearing the barong for special occasions. Jezzie reminds us wearing a Barong Tagalog is not only about having and wearing your pride in your culture, it’s also a dedication to the survival of our culture–a message that’s echoed in the Abasta matriarch in “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers.” Filipino culture outside of the Philippines is indeed alive and well, what can you do to continue this dedication?