Pista Sa Nayon’s signature event was relocated in 2022 to Mare Island, a place that shares a long and storied relationship with the Philippines and Filipino-Americans. In 1898, the U.S. Navy deployed ships from Mare Island to fight in the Battle of Manila Bay, an event that eventually led to the Philippines’ declaration of independence from Spain in June of that year. In the decades that followed, many Filipinos were stationed at Mare Island before settling in Vallejo — buying homes, raising families, building businesses, and helping shape the community we know today.

This year’s Pista Sa Nayon theme, Kwentuhan — meaning “storytelling” — honors the importance of preserving and sharing our community’s history across generations. As we celebrate our culture, traditions, and heritage, we pay special tribute to our elders whose stories carry the wisdom, sacrifices, and experiences of those who came before us. Through Kwentuhan, we hope to inspire meaningful conversations that ensure our ancestors' stories continue to live on with the next generation.