There was no centennial or big-name singer or parade to draw throngs to the 15th annual Filipino Fiesta at Kapi'olani Park yesterday.

Still, the turnout was higher than expected, the food was plentiful, and the entertainment diverse — not the least bit disappointing for attendees, even those who had seen the fanfare of previous years.

"We came just to see the culture," said Saturnino Aganos, of Waipahu, sitting on a picnic bench in the park with his family.

The fiesta started as a way to raise money for construction of the Filipino Community Center, which was finished in 2002. After the center opened, the event was seen as a way to promote Filipino culture.

Last year — when Filipinos celebrated 100 years in Hawai'i, "American Idol" star Jasmine Trias was on the entertainment lineup and a parade along Kalakaua Avenue showcased the diverse regions and peoples of the Philippines — the fiesta drew more than 20,000.

About 7,000 people attended yesterday.

Some said they missed the parade, which organizers decided was too expensive to put on this year. But others said the main attraction is still the Filipino food — and yesterday, there was plenty of it.

More than a dozen vendors, selling everything from traditional Filipino food to more contemporary fare, participated. Passers-by stopped to find out where the intoxicating smells wafting over Kapi'olani Park were coming from.

Roger Carbillon and his family, of Kalihi, said it was their first time at the festival. They came to relax and taste a little bit of home.

Carbillon immigrated from the Philippines in 1981.

Beyond the food booths, a big attraction was several tents with information on regions of the Philippines. Crafts and photos from the regions were on display, and volunteers answered questions and showed off traditional costumes and games.

"To have this festival once a year, it's very important," said Marilyn Silva, who was manning the tent for the Mindanao region yesterday.

Members of the University of Hawai'i Tagalog club, called Katipunan, were nearby, demonstrating traditional games.

"Sometimes you kind of forget about your heritage, but you can relearn," said Zaldymar Cortez, a UH sophomore and member of the club.

Geminiano Arre, president of the Fil-Com Center, said that even though the event was smaller this year, it accomplished its mission: Bringing Filipinos and non-Filipinos together to celebrate the Philippines.

"This is really an important part of our stated mission," he said, looking around at the crowd. "That's our objective, to share."

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.