Written by Staff Writer-Now Moments TIMES
Morris American Bar will trade cocktails for karaoke and spring rolls for small talk this week as it transforms into a lively hub for food, flavor, and Filipino heritage. On Wednesday, May 28, the Filipino Tastemakers Pop-Up will close out AAPI Month with a night designed to honor identity, invite curiosity, and celebrate community.
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The event is curated by Aliya Elaine Duran, a local native and creative connector known throughout the region as “the plug.” With deep roots in branding, interior design, and event production, particularly within the nightlife and spirits industries, Duran’s work often exists at the intersection of culture and collaboration. For this project, she teamed up with Rhine Dizon and Miea Hicks, two fellow Filipino-American creatives who share a passion for storytelling through food, music, and shared space.
“It’s more than an event,” Duran shared. “It’s about showing pride in where you’re from and giving people a place to feel that joy.”
At the heart of the event is Ligaya’s Filipino Food, a family-run spot based in Wheaton, Maryland, that blends traditional turo-turo (point-point) service with fast-casual hospitality. Ligaya—meaning “joy” in Tagalog—captures the spirit of this gathering in both name and purpose. Known for generous portions and flavors that spark memory, the team behind Ligaya will present a menu rooted in warmth, nostalgia, and community.
Plates will arrive layered with tender adobo wings served over white rice, crisp lumpiang shanghai filled with savory ground pork, and grilled pork skewers dripping with sweet-and-smoky glaze. Pancit bihon—stir-fried noodles tossed with vegetables and chicken—offers a comfort familiar to many, while golden-brown turon delivers a sweet close with caramelized plantain in every bite. Each dish carries the kind of casual richness that comes from recipes passed through generations and reimagined with care.
The experience is designed to engage more than taste. With DJ Charity spinning a blend of 90s R&B and current hits, and karaoke ready to cue up classics all night long, the room promises to feel less like a pop-up and more like a family reunion in motion. Guests are invited to move freely between food stations, the bar, and each other—bridging stories and making memories without the formality of a traditional dinner or party.
The Filipino Tastemakers Pop-Up isn’t just an AAPI Month celebration. It’s a cultural snapshot, powered by the women behind it and the flavors that brought them together. And for one night, in the middle of Washington, D.C., that snapshot will become something guests can smell, taste, sing with, and hold onto long after the last song fades.
