A high-fashion Filipino lookbook that feels like 'coming home'
Ramos, Canares, P-Lo and Noodles are among the co-founders of the Baryo HiFi festival, which is now in its second year and taking place this Saturday, May 3. For the event, Filipino American artists, performers and vendors take over a block of Beverly Boulevard, a joyous showcase that Ramos describes as a reclamation of Historic Filipinotown.
'As Filipinos, we're often the ones working behind the scenes, whether that's in the entertainment industry, fashion, healthcare, hospitality,' Ramos says. 'We're the backbone of so many industries, but we're rarely in the spotlight. Our goal was really to shine a light and create a platform for us to celebrate, be seen and do that on our own terms.'
With clothing and bling from Filipino-owned brands Art Community, Ballads, Maaari, De La Gold, FAMILY by Coen Clemente, Mojave, Gara Sun and RIF.LA, stylist Christine Garcia wanted to focus on 'Filipino hospitality and heartwarming generosity.' Taking inspiration from her own family photos, Garcia instinctively paired oversized denim on denim, stacked jade bangles on gold bracelets and styled a FAMILY tee that reads, 'There is beauty in our Moreno skin.'
'It felt like coming home to family,' Garcia says of the styling process.
These same brands will have booths at Baryo, as part of two marketplaces featuring Filipino designers — one curated by Sari-Sari Studio and Mayumi Market, and the other by Buttery Pat and Tried & True Co. Attendees can shop R.Chive Vintage streetwear and mahjong-inspired earrings from BRWNGRLZ.
The festival will feature 'Working Overtime,' an exhibit curated by Kristofferson San Pablo, showcasing 19 interdisciplinary artists meditating on basketball as a lens for themes of hustle, resilience and community. Baryo will likewise have beloved L.A. food vendors such as Dollar Hits and Lasita, along with live performances from icons like 1970s disco band VST & Co.
'This event really is from the heart. Everyone's volunteering their time,' Canares says. 'We want you to bring your family, your kids, your parents, your grandparents, enjoy great music, have amazing food and shop from a lot of these small businesses that are popping up.'
Last year, the Baryo team pulled off the event in just three weeks, coming together like what they've jokingly called the 'Filipino Avengers.'
' Some of us are born and raised in L.A. and some of us have moved here and found our footing here, but we all found community,' Ramos says. 'We've accomplished our goal in the first year to bring awareness about Historic Filipinotown. The next step is to really build on that and leave a lasting legacy in the neighborhood.'
For the founders, Baryo is more than just a public celebration of style, food and culture — it's a way to connect, to bridge generations through Filipino pride.
'Out of all the things that I've done, this is the one that my family has finally recognized,' Canares says.
By taking up space, they're helping the next generation of Filipino creatives to imagine doing the same. 'We're not those kind of people that like the spotlight at all,' Ramos says, 'but we know how important it is and how much it does inspire other young Filipino Americans that may not have grown up to see people that look like us, that are in these industries.'
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