Forget forks. Forget plates. This Sunday at POST Houston, you’re invited to do something that might make your grandmother gasp: eat an entire feast with your bare hands, straight from giant banana leaves stretching across what organizers call the largest Kamayan table in Texas.
Welcome to the Filipino American History Month Celebration, where Houston’s thriving Filipino community takes over POST Houston on October 12 for a full day of culture, food, dance, and tradition. And yes, that means you get to experience kamayan—the Filipino tradition of communal eating where everyone gathers around banana-leaf-covered tables and digs in with their hands.
Award-winning Chef Paul Qui is creating the feast. The table is massive. The experience is unforgettable. And if you’ve never eaten Filipino food before, you’re about to understand why Houston’s Filipino community has been raving about their cuisine for decades.
What’s Kamayan and Why Should You Try It?
Kamayan literally means “eating with hands” in Tagalog. But it’s so much more than just ditching utensils. It’s about community, about sharing, about breaking down barriers between strangers who become friends over a shared meal.
Traditional kamayan spreads feature mountains of rice surrounded by grilled meats, seafood, vegetables, and traditional Filipino dishes—all artfully arranged on banana leaves. Everyone gathers around the table. No individual plates. No serving yourself onto separate dishes. You reach in, grab what looks good, and eat together.
There’s something primal and joyful about eating this way. Your hands feel the temperature of the food. You connect with your meal in a way that forks and knives just can’t replicate. And the communal aspect turns dinner into an event.
Chef Paul Qui—a James Beard Award winner and Top Chef champion—is creating this year’s kamayan experience at POST Houston. If you’re going to try eating Filipino food with your hands for the first time, having an award-winning chef prepare the spread seems like the right call.
The kamayan dinner requires tickets (this is a full meal, after all), but it’s your chance to experience authentic Filipino cuisine served the way it’s been enjoyed for generations.
Free All-Day Festival: Dance, Music, and Culture
Before you commit to the dinner (or if eating with your hands isn’t your thing), the free all-day festival gives you plenty of ways to experience Filipino culture without buying a ticket.
Traditional Philippine Dance Performances The Tropical Rhythms Hula Dance Troupe performs throughout the day, showcasing traditional Philippine dances that tell stories through movement. These aren’t your high school talent show performances—this is serious cultural preservation through dance, where every hand gesture and foot movement carries meaning.
Live Music on the Lawn Filipino American artist Larry g(EE) brings R&B, Soul, and Pop to POST Houston’s lawn, with the Houston skyline creating the perfect backdrop. Free concert. Comfortable outdoor setting. And a chance to hear original music alongside crowd-pleasing covers.
Rooftop Zumba Start your day with a FREE Rooftop Zumba class led by Filipino American instructors Rhabby and Connie Domingo from Tropa Z Fitness. Because nothing says “I’m ready for a food festival” like working up an appetite through dance cardio with killer views of downtown Houston.
The Asian Pop-Up Market: Shop, Eat, Explore
POST Houston’s North Docks transforms into a bustling Asian pop-up market for the day—think carnival vibes meets cultural celebration.
Food vendors serve up Filipino dishes you might not find in your neighborhood. Community vendors showcase Filipino crafts, art, and products. The market creates that festival atmosphere where browsing becomes an adventure and you discover things you didn’t know you needed.
This is where you can try Filipino street food, pick up unique gifts, support local Filipino-owned businesses, and just soak in the energy of a community celebration.
Why This Celebration Matters
October is Filipino American History Month, commemorating October 18, 1587—the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States. That’s right: Filipinos have been part of American history for over 400 years.
Today, Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the nation. In Houston specifically, the Filipino community forms a significant and vibrant part of the city’s cultural fabric. From healthcare to hospitality, education to the arts, Filipino Houstonians contribute to every aspect of city life.
But recognition hasn’t always matched contributions. Filipino American history gets glossed over in textbooks. Cultural celebrations haven’t always made it to the mainstream event calendar. Events like this one at POST Houston change that narrative.
When award-winning Chef Paul Qui sets up a massive kamayan table, when traditional dancers perform for crowds who might never have seen Philippine dance, when vendors sell Filipino products to customers who’ve never explored Filipino culture—that’s when history comes alive. That’s when recognition becomes celebration.
The Filipino Community in Houston
Houston’s Filipino community has deep roots and continues growing. Drive through neighborhoods like Bellaire and you’ll find Filipino restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores serving a community that keeps traditions alive while building new ones.
The city hosts multiple Filipino American organizations, from the Filipino American National Historical Society Houston chapter (FANHS-HTX) to cultural groups preserving traditional arts. Filipino nurses and healthcare workers form a significant part of Houston’s medical infrastructure. Filipino American business owners contribute to the local economy. Filipino artists, musicians, and performers enrich the city’s cultural scene.
Events like the POST Houston celebration create space for the Filipino community to share their heritage with the broader Houston population. It’s an invitation: come learn, come taste, come experience what makes Filipino culture special.
What to Expect
Date: Sunday, October 12, 2025
Location: POST Houston (Downtown Houston’s historic former post office turned creative hub)
Hours: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Admission: FREE for the festival
Schedule Highlights:
- Morning: Rooftop Zumba class (free but space may be limited)
- All Day: Asian Pop-up Market on the North Docks
- Throughout the Day: Traditional Philippine Dance Performances by Tropical Rhythms Hula Dance Troupe
- Afternoon/Evening: Live music on the lawn with Larry g(EE)
- Evening: Kamayan Dinner by Chef Paul Qui (ticketed)
What to Bring:
- Appetite (seriously, the food vendors will tempt you all day)
- Cash and cards (vendors may have preferences)
- Comfortable shoes (POST Houston is huge and you’ll want to explore)
- Open mind and curious spirit
Kamayan Dinner: The kamayan dinner with Chef Paul Qui requires separate tickets. Check POST Houston’s website or Eventbrite for availability and pricing. These unique dining experiences typically sell out, so if you want to eat with your hands from the largest kamayan table in Texas, book ahead.
Beyond the Festival: Filipino Food in Houston
If Sunday’s celebration sparks your interest in Filipino cuisine, Houston offers plenty of places to continue your culinary exploration:
Filipino restaurants scattered throughout the city serve everything from classic adobo (meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic) to crispy lechon (roasted pork), sinigang (sour tamarisk soup), and countless other dishes that showcase the Philippines’ complex culinary heritage.
Filipino bakeries offer pan de sal (soft bread rolls), ensaymada (buttery brioche-style pastries), and ube (purple yam) everything—from cakes to ice cream to donuts.
The beauty of Filipino cuisine lies in its fusion nature. Centuries of trade, colonization, and immigration created a food culture that blends indigenous ingredients with Spanish, Chinese, American, and other influences. The result? A cuisine that feels simultaneously familiar and exotic, comfort food with unexpected twists.
POST Houston: The Perfect Venue
POST Houston—the massive renovation of the historic Barbara Jordan Post Office—has quickly become one of downtown Houston’s premier cultural destinations since opening. The mixed-use space combines food halls, rooftop gardens, performance spaces, and event venues.
The building’s scale allows for events like this Filipino American History Month celebration to spread out. Rooftop Zumba. Ground-level market. Lawn concerts. Indoor kamayan dinner. Different experiences happening simultaneously across multiple levels and spaces.
The location in downtown Houston makes it accessible from across the metro area, and the building’s historic architecture adds gravitas to cultural celebrations. You’re not just attending a festival—you’re celebrating in a landmark building that’s been transformed into a community gathering space.
The Bottom Line
This Sunday, you can start your morning with Zumba on a rooftop, spend the afternoon watching traditional Philippine dances and browsing an Asian market, enjoy a free concert on the lawn, and cap it all off by eating with your hands from the largest kamayan table in Texas.
That’s a pretty solid Sunday.
But more importantly, you get to experience a culture that’s been part of American history for over 400 years and remains a vital part of Houston’s present. You get to support Filipino American artists, vendors, and chefs. You get to learn something new, taste something unforgiar, and maybe—just maybe—discover that eating with your hands isn’t barbaric at all. It’s joyful, communal, and exactly what Sunday dinner should feel like.
October is Filipino American History Month. Houston is celebrating at POST Houston this Sunday. The invitation is open to everyone. Come hungry. Come curious. Come ready to eat with your hands.
Event Information:
What: Filipino American History Month Celebration
When: Sunday, October 12, 2025, 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: POST Houston, 401 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77201
Admission: FREE (Kamayan Dinner requires separate tickets)
Parking: POST Houston has parking garage (paid). Street parking and nearby lots also available.
Featured Activities:
- FREE Rooftop Zumba with Tropa Z Fitness
- Traditional Philippine Dance Performances by Tropical Rhythms Hula Dance Troupe
- Asian Pop-up Market (food vendors, community vendors, cultural experiences)
- Live concert with Larry g(EE) on the lawn
- Kamayan Dinner by Chef Paul Qui (ticketed)
Age: Family-friendly, all ages welcome
Contact/Tickets:
- Festival: FREE, no tickets needed
- Kamayan Dinner: Check POSTHouston.com for ticket information
Getting There:
- Address: 401 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77201
- From I-10: Exit downtown, follow signs to Franklin Street
- From I-45: Exit downtown, head toward Franklin Street
- Metro: Multiple bus lines serve downtown Houston; check METRO schedule
Pro Tips:
- Arrive early for Rooftop Zumba (space may be limited)
- Bring cash for market vendors (some may not accept cards)
- Book Kamayan Dinner tickets in advance if interested (these sell out)
- Explore POST Houston’s food hall and rooftop even if not attending festival activities
- Come hungry—Filipino food vendors will make skipping meals difficult
- Don’t be shy about asking vendors and performers about Filipino culture; they love sharing
Stay Updated: Follow @POSTHouston on Instagram for updates and additional programming announcements.
