Why LA’s Filipino Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium Meant More This Year
June 15, 2025
Written by Niko Del Rey
Last week, we had one of the biggest social gatherings for Filipinos in the Los Angeles area as the world winning Los Angeles Dodgers hosted Filipino Heritage Night, making it one of the most memorable outings in 2025. This could not have come at a better time, uniting 54,000 Angelinos amidst all the chaos that has been ensuing the streets of LA in regards to the protest against immigration enforcement raids. But for one magical, single night, LA natives showed out and came together, throwing one of the biggest parties Dodger stadium has seen. Let’s take it back to the top of the inning as we recap, Filipino Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium. (Stick around to the end to see a list of Filipino Heritage Nights happening around the MLB later this year.)
All the stars came out and the evening started out with good music and good vibes from talented artists such as DJ Nico Blitz - a hero in the LA community as a part of the legendary Cruz Show on 92.3FM, ZOS!MO - recently featured on NPR Music’s Desk of the Day, and 4th Impact - contestants on Britain’s X-Factor. Centerfield Plaza was already bumping with elite music before the start of the game but of course it wouldn’t be a Filipino party without karaoke, which was also offered at Centerfield Plaza as fans flooded the stadium and headed to their seats. But before the first pitch was underwary, fans were treated to a special menu around the park specifically curated for Filipino Heritage Night with items like lumpia buckets, longanisa sausage, adobo nachos, ube soft serve, and ube malt.
The sun is beginning to set, the weather is perfect, we got great music, and amazing food. What better way is there to kick off Filipino Heritage Night, than with 2 of the biggest (and I mean THE biggest) names in Filipino pop culture? Liza Soberano and Jeff Bernat *fan girling immensely inside* have taken the field!! Considered one of the most beautiful women in the Philippines and over 18M followers on Instagram, California born Lisa Soberano is one of the most popular Filipina Actresses in the Philippines, starring in romantic drama roles such as Forevermore and My Ex and Whys. Soberano’s Ceremonial First Pitch was beautifully delivered as she easily cleared home plate, making the pitch as perfect as she is.
Soberano’s First Pitch was followed up by Filipino-American singer, songwriter, record producer, and grammy award winner, Jeff Bernat performing the national anthem. Best known in America for his iconic R&B music that truly had a chokehold on the tumblr / youtube generation. To sum it up in the 2010s, if you weren’t listening to Jeff Bernat, you weren’t listening to good music. Fast forward to 2014, Bernat’s music started to take off globally as he brought his skillset to South Korea, with his music being featured in the Korean Drama, You Are My Destiny.
The electricity in the atmosphere could only be matched with a nail biting game as it came down to the wire with the Dodgers down 4 to the New York Mets 5, entering the bottom of the 9th inning where Max Muncy launched one into the stands, tying the game and bringing it into extra innings. The weather was perfect and the vibes were immaculate as hometown hero Freddie Freeman walked up to the plate, closing the night with an RBI to bring the final score, Dodgers 6 to New York Mets 5. Something out of a movie scene as the Dodgers brought home the win and Filipino Heritage Night came to a close.
And if you aren’t an LA native, don’t fret! We have lots of baseball left in the season and with a third of the league celebrating Filipino Heritage night as well, you might be able to attend your very own night, very soon! Take a look at the dates below to see if your team is on the list celebrating Filipino Heritage Night. And if not, maybe it’s time you be the change to unite Filipinos in your community for a night out on the field.
June 3rd Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Mets
June 10th Arizona Diamond Backs v Seattle Mariners
June 17th Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates
June 24th Los Angeles Angels v Boston Red Sox
June 24th San Diego Padres v Washington Nationals
August 17th Washington Nationals v Philadelphia Phillies
August 23rd Seattle Mariners v The Athletics
September 5th-7th New York Yankees Filipino Heritage Weekend
September 24th San Francisco Giants v St. Louis Cardinals
Honorable Mention:
May 28th the Chicago Cubs v Colorado Rockies for AAPI Heritage Month
Although this wasn’t specifically Filipino Heritage Night, it’s really cool to note that Filipino American Louis De Guzman aided in the special promotional jersey highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander night, infusing his roots into his art.
Written by Niko Del Rey
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