The annual Philippine Festival took place on Nov. 29 and 30, 2025, at Yoyogi Park. The event was organized by the Philippine Assistance Group, with Smiles Mobile Remittance as the major sponsor. Over two days, the organizers and participating sponsors brought nostalgia, excitement and smiles to Filipinos living in Japan.

A Taste of Home

Many commercial and food booths joined the festival, each with its own design and gimmicks to attract visitors. Several food stalls offered traditional Filipino dishes such as ihaw-ihaw, silog meals, street food and other favorites served with white rice. There were also pastries, bread and grocery items available for those who do not live near Filipino stores.

Smiles Announces U.S. Launch

As Smiles Mobile Remittance returned as this year’s major sponsor, one of the biggest highlights was the announcement of its upcoming U.S. launch. CEO Eiji Miyakawa and EVP and Director Alex Milan, together with partners from Philippine National Bank and Asia United Bank, shared that the service will soon be available in the United States. Global brand ambassador Gabby Concepcion also announced the news onstage. Many attendees expressed their excitement, and loyal Smilers were encouraged to share the update with family and friends in the U.S.

Fun and Activities at the Smiles Booth

The Smiles booth was lively throughout the weekend, offering activities such as basketball, a roulette game for loyal users, karaoke, Zumba sessions on the Smiles stage and on-site assistance for service registration. Philippine National Bank also had a space inside the booth for Smilers who wanted to open an account.

Highlights From the Main Stage

Aside from the Smiles stage events, the team also made an appearance on the festival’s main stage. The program featured a performance by the Smiles Dance Barkada, fun games with the host, a Zumba session open to everyone and the much-awaited performance of Gabby Concepcion.

Meet and Greet With Gabby Concepcion

After his main stage performance, Gabby headed to the Smiles booth for a meet-and-greet session with donors to this year’s One Million Smiles program. Many Smilers were able to meet, hug and take photos with the global ambassador, who also serenaded the crowd before leaving.

The celebration continued as the Smiles stage hosted singing and dancing until late on both nights. It was truly a weekend of sharing Smiles, celebrating community and enjoying Filipino culture.