The evening features performances by Portland Taiko, DJ Anjali and more, plus a limited-edition AAPI Night scarf designed by Filipino and Mexican American artist Pedro Ponce
The Portland Timbers celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Night on May 9 when they host Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park (7:30pm PT, TICKETS).
The evening will feature a collection of performances both pregame and at halftime as well as a limited-edition scarf designed by Filipino and Mexican American artist Pedro Ponce. The scarf is available exclusively at PTFC Authentics locations around the park.
AAPI Night Events
The lot across from SeatGeek Gate F will have a host of activities including a mini-soccer pitch, giant jenga and other games as well as a face painter plus many performances.
- 5:30-7:30pm - DJ Anjali will be spinning throughout
- 5:45-6:05pm - Portland Taiko
- 6:15-6:25pm - Filipino American Friendship Club of Oregon will be showcasing Sayaw Sa Bankgo and Tinikling dances
At pregame, the coin toss captain will be popular food influencer The Korean Mama followed by an anthem performance by Rachel Wong.
At halftime, a performance of Polynesian dance will be made by Teva Oriata Polynesian Dance Troupe.
AAPI Night | May 9
An evening honoring our region's vibrant Asian-American and Pacific Islander community featuring cultural celebrations, performances and organizations at Providence Park.
The night also features limited-edition scarf for sale exclusively at PTFC Authentics designed by Filipino and Mexican-American artist Pedro Ponce.
The scarf
Artist Statement from Pedro Ponce:
"This scarf is inspired by my Filipino roots and my connection to Portland. The Jeepney is a big part of the design and represents Filipino creativity and resilience.
After WWII, American military vehicles were left behind in the Philippines, they were transformed into Jeepneys—colorful, shared vehicles that became a huge part of everyday life and are still used in the Philippines today. They are cultural icons and often known for their vibrant, colorful, designs and decorations.
If you look closely at the Jeepney design on the scarf, you can see a small yo-yo which is something I have loved to do all my life and is a common toy in the Philippines. A Filipino immigrant introduced the modern day yo-yo the United States and is called the “Father of the Yo-Yo” in America for popularizing the toy and demonstrating the trick-friendly design.
The flower on the scarf is the Sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines, which represents strength and humility.
The sun is inspired by the Philippine flag and stands for freedom, unity, and hope.
This piece gave me the opportunity to express my culture, identity, and bringing different parts of who I am into one design."
About designer Pedro Ponce:
"My name is Pedro Ponce, I’m a Filipino and Mexican American artist born and raised in Oregon. My mom was born in the Philippines, and both of my grandparents are Filipino, so staying connected to my culture has always been important to me. I do that through food, tradition, hospitality, and things like karaoke. I’ve been making art my whole life, mostly as a way to understand myself and how I feel about the world. Oil pastels are my main medium, but I love to experiment with a variety of mediums. I come from family of artists, so I gain a lot of my inspiration from the people close to me like friends and family."
