The 113th Festival of the Holy Spirit honoring Portuguese religious and cultural traditions will be held the weekend of May 26-28 in Point Loma, culminating with the annual Festa parade on Sunday, May 28.
COVID restrictions forced the annual Portuguese festival to be downsized into a drive-thru, pick-up-your-dinner event in 2020. Then, in 2021 for the first time in its century-plus history, the Point Loma Portuguese community’s signature annual event was not sponsored by a family, but by UPSES Inc.
That ended in 2022 when Brian and Deborah Dutra became Festa presidents.
In 2023, the torch of family sponsorship has been passed to Ted and Marisea “Cici” Drummond.
“My wife and I put our names in for consideration as sponsors and we were lucky enough for them (Festa board) to accept our volunteer pledge,” said Ted Drummond adding it has meant a lot to them both. “My wife has wanted to do this for some time,” he said adding, “It was not something I thought I would ever do. It’s quite the undertaking of time and effort to put on the event throughout the year.”
The Festa has been a family affair for both Drummonds and their precursors.
Ted’s grandparents, Manuel and Virginia Ribeiro hosted the Festa in 1976, with his mother, Melanie Sardina (Ribeiro), as queen. Cici’s great-grandparents, Manuel and Maria Nazare Rosa hosted the Festa in 1935, 1942, and 1944 with her grandmother, Mary Rosa, as queen. Cici’s parents, Paul and Maria Stanley, also hosted the Festa in 1996 with her sister Mariel Filippone as queen.
As the sponsoring family, the Drummonds were in charge of hosting eight fundraising events up to and including Festa do Espirito Santo itself held the week of May 21-28. “We work hand-in-hand with other volunteers: It’s a group effort,” said Drummond who added, “This is the big event of the year. It’s definitely a way for people to come together and support our community, not only in Point Loma but in San Diego. It’s about our ethnicity and our heritage.”
Ted pointed out it was important for the Drummond family to “keep the tradition going” adding “We’re very appreciative of everyone supporting us. The Festa has been around for 113 years, and we would like nothing more than to see it go on for the next 113 years.
“We want people to know who we are and what we stand for. We’re Portuguese and our traditions and heritage are something that’s very near and dear to our hearts and a big reason why we took this on. We want everyone to come and experience it.”
U.P.A.S.E.S HISTORY
In 1920, M.O. Medina saw the need for a common place for the Portuguese community to gather to celebrate the Festa do Espírito Santo, “Festival of the Holy Spirit.” He developed a committee to begin gathering the funds needed to build a chapel and community hall. He also led his committee throughout California to procure donations although roads were very difficult to travel.
To complete construction work on the chapel, boat owners would leave a crew member at home paying him 25 cents a ton for his efforts.
In 1922 the Portuguese community of San Diego proudly inaugurated the United Portuguese Azorean Society of the Holy Spirit, Capela or the U.P.A.S.E.S. Chapel and Hall. The chapel is one of only two original California Portuguese chapels. As more Portuguese immigrated to San Diego, the need for a larger hall was recognized, as there were immigrants from the Azores, Madeira, and mainland Portugal. The community pooled together resources and acquired financing. The original hall from 1922 was then moved and a new hall was constructed. In 1948 the current U.P.S.E.S. Inc. Hall was opened. Medina served as the first president and remained so for 51 years.
2023 FESTA ROYALTY
Queen: Eva Rosa Jones
King: Dylan Michael Jones
Jr. Queen: Farrah Jolene Filippone
Jr. King: Dominic Cru Sanfilippo
Small King: Jackson Michael Cochran
Small Queen: Grace Catherine Cantieri
St. Isabel: Olivia Catherine Cantieri
Infant of Prague: Mason Mack Metcalf
Photo by Thomas Melville
