The Filipino Diaspora in Northern Ireland

An introduction to some of the micro-communities that make up this vibrant community

Over the last three decades, Filipino legal migrants from all walks of life have progressively and contentedly settled in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. A picturesque and beautiful country, Northern Ireland has a population of 1.93 million. Filipinos have emerged to become a significant part of the National Health Service work force, private hospitals, community and home care entities, hospitality, engineering and seafaring industries. 

Building community: Cultural organisations and festivals

The vibrant, dynamic and cohesive Filipino community in Northern Ireland has certainly conquered many challenges with faith and resilience. In 1993, pioneer community leaders of the Filipino community founded the NIFA, Fil Com NI and PUSO-NI community organizations. In August this year, PUSO-NI, led by Indirah Yaqub Abdullah, Roy Galit and Irene Magno, showcased a stunning cultural attraction with a group of young Filipino-British and Filipino-Irish dancers performing “Singkil”, a traditional dance from the Mindanao island group of the Philippine archipelago, in an annual popular festival in Belfast, the MELA Festival. 

Belfast Barrio Fiesta is a massively celebrated and popular annual Filipino festival which brings Filipinos and locals from all corners of Northern Ireland together in a rich, authentic and colourful cultural celebration of Filipino heritage. Filipino performers from different parts of the country entertain the crowd with a wide array of music and dance. Superb and nostalgic performances by celebrities from the Philippines would be one of main highlights of the festival. The festival coincides with the commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day in the month of June. 

Filipino products such as delicacies and treats are carefully crafted boasting the culinary capabilities of many Filipino restaurant chefs, caterers and seasonal food vendors. It is a cultural immersion which creates beautiful memories of unity, belongingness and identity. In the last couple of years, Belfast Barrio Fiesta has been curated on a bigger scale than before. Many Filipino entrepreneurs and supporters from London and Dublin have collaborated with the organisers, including Malou Enginco, Marilou Astorga and Maria Tennyson, led by Lola Be). 

The festival is well-supported by the Belfast council, politicians and locals. Other vital service companies which are established and operated by Filipino entrepreneurs play an important role as sponsors of the festival. In 2026, DDC UK Promotions Ltd and Belfast Barrio Fiesta event organizers will work together to produce an enormously amusing day infused with meaningful cultural celebration.

Belfast Barrio Fiesta is just one event highlighting Filipino culture in Northern Ireland. Filipinos in Ballymena, a town in County Antrim, organise Ballymena Barrio Fiesta yearly, which also attracts many members of the community. Kubo Belfast produces The Festival of Asia in Belfast. Many Filipino restaurants and food vendors participate in this popular event which is a celebration of Asian culture and food.

Celebrating Filipino excellence: Music and sports

Recently, DDK UK Promotions Ltd along with other great leaders and members of the Filipino community in Belfast, Limavady and Derry pulled together in such a powerful and heart-warming “bayanihan” community spirit to fully support the world-class University of Santo Tomas Singers and the choral ensemble’s founder and conductor, Professor Fidel Gener Calalang Jr. on their first fantastic and hugely successful concerts held in St. Joseph’s Church in Hannahstown, Belfast on 21 October and Christ The King Church in Limavady on 23 October, and an incredible win in an international choral competition in Northern Ireland. 

The pinnacle of the UST Singers’ performance tour in Northern Ireland was competing for the first time in history in the 13^th City of Derry International Choral Festival 2025 in the iconic Guild Hall in Derry on 24-26 October 2025. The choir won the grand prize of the international choir competition, the prestigious The Oak Tree of Derry Trophy, as well as garnered special awards, including the Contemporary Music Centre Award for performance of a music piece composed by a composer from Ireland and the Bishop’s Gate Hotel Award for performance of music composed before 1750.

The excellent performances of the UST Singers during their concerts and the festival proved to be a celebration of Filipino music and culture on the global stage. Moreover, the special and distinguished achievements on their unique and stellar musical artistry in the festival added to the choir’s many exceptional accolades, bringing pride and honour to all the Filipino fans and supporters of the UST Singers in NI who joyfully cheered on the choir throughout the ensemble’s victorious and unforgettable visit in NI, leaving a significant and lasting mark on the Filipino community in Northern Ireland.

In addition to musical groups, Filipinos also band together with sports in Northern Ireland. A very successful kickstart to the Inter-town Basketball League Season 2025 was filled with thrill with 12 competing Filipino basketball teams from all over Northern Ireland, hosted and organised by DDC UK Promotions Ltd on 25 October 2025 in De La Salle College in Belfast. It is the aim of the organizers to bring Filipinos closer together through sports. 

Basketball is a big part of the community. The Filipino basketball players participating in the league games are championing health and well-being. It is a very positive element of the Filipino community to have events that foster sportsmanship and friendship. The exhilarating atmosphere is evident from the onset of preliminary games with the spectators’ display of high energy and enthusiasm.

Some standout stars in food, art and more

The enticingly delicious Filipino food made by Filipino chefs are becoming increasingly popular in Northern Ireland. Filipino restaurants and cafes such as Taste of Manila, Vikings, Press 29, Rayles Diners, Kubo Belfast, Kalye, Platito by Mangan, Manong’s Filipino Food, Banto Bites and Peaches and Cream serve delectable dishes and desserts which invite their Filipino and local customers to dine regularly.

Filipino photographers and videographers show their creativity and technical skills in Filipino private and community events. PIXSMITH Fotos, owned by Peljun and Chada Corvera, has been serving the Filipino community with excitement and fun with a photobooth in a lot of private functions. Erwin Garbin Photography and other photographers, mainly from Lisburn City, started with a collaborative work with PIXSMITH Fotos in 2011. Other brilliant photographers and videographers are Daenel Carillo, Lito Mendoza and Point Shoot. 

Peljun Corvera is a talented musician who is very much involved in church music in several Filipino Catholic congregations. He sings in various Filipino functions such as weddings and birthday parties. He is the guitarist, pianist and lead vocalist of Juan Republic Band that has been mainly performing popular Original Pilipino Music (OPM), ranging from old and new Tagalog and English songs. The ensemble has been inspiring members of the Filipino community for 14 years. 

Other members of the band are Dennis Francisco (band chairman and drum), Arthur Abellaneda (bass guitar), Noel Mamac (lead guitar), Kirby Bahan (keyboard), Archie Sanchez (rhythm guitar) and Gerry Magada (bass guitar). For many years, another talented band has become an evolving part of the music scene of the Filipino community is the CoolRain Band. The band plays a mixture of music genres with Domingo Crisostomo as the musical director and pianist- the vocalists are AJ Morones Salatan, Stephanie Axton, Hazel Simber and Mae Puno. Other members of the band are John Moya (lead guitar), Cris Duclayan (bass guitar), Allan Acosta (rhythm guitar), Jhun Aton (drums).

A Northern Ireland-based painter and artist, Jason Gonzales, creates art pieces with depths and textures that explore how humans encounter nature from the external environment and, more importantly, the nature within. His works are invariably imbued with calm and serenity. Jason runs Ambition Planet which is his creative platform.

Meeting challenges together

As life comes with challenges and setbacks, some of the Filipino community members who had to battle unfortunate and tragic circumstances were helped by community leaders with compassionate support. Aldrin Bañas is a Community Nurse for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and a volunteer for the Apostleship of the Sea caring for migrant fishers and seafarers who supports many members of the Filipino community tirelessly. Currently, he is on the Propaedeutic year of the Diaconate, a preparatory program of the Diaconate under the Diocese of Down and Connor. He actively supports the spiritual aspect of the lives of the catholic Filipinos in Belfast. Two key church figures in Belfast are Rev. Fr. Patrick Devlin of St. Joseph’s Parish Church, (Hannahstown) and Rev. Fr. Vincent Cushnahan of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish Church (Ligoneil). They are very supportive to the Filipinos in NI which is deeply appreciated by the community. 

Meanwhile, another dedicated catholic church leader, Rosa Cueto, who is based in Lisburn, is a member of St. Patrick’s Church Lisburn Parish Pastoral Council. She serves as part of the music ministry in the church choir during Filipino mass, a lector/scripture reader, eucharistic minister (giving holy communion to residents in a care home twice a month) and altar society volunteer church cleaner. Mrs Cueto is also a volunteer facilitator of marriage preparation courses in ACCORD Belfast. She is the first Filipino-British ACCORD Facilitator of Marriage Preparation Program after attaining a Special Purpose Award Certificate in Marriage Education from St. Patrick’s Pontifical University in Maynooth, Republic of Ireland. The impact of the religious leaders is valuable to the entire Filipino community.

The collaborative efforts of many micro-communities within the Filipino community in Northern Ireland remain steadfast through the years which are reflected on the success and strength of leaders and members of the community. Their stories are yet to be told to feature the different interesting facets of the community.