By Lorna Lardizabal-Dietz
It’s a new year for Filipino community empowerment! There are a lot of Filipino culture bearers in our Filipino American communities that deserve more-than-the-usual attention. One of these culture bearers is the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, “the steward of San Francisco’s 1977 International Hotel Eviction and Historic Manilatown legacies, and dedicated to not only incubating community-based creatives telling the stories of our Filipino-American community but also offering to our community culture-bearer informed instruction on pre-colonial Philippine ancestral music.”
Resident Composer Caroline Cabading’s “Sugilanon” suite will be fusing both of these Manilatown Heritage Foundation missions with a Filipino-American Jazz Suite that is informed by the ancestral Philippine musical motifs and instrumentation of the Maguindanao and Kalinga ethnolinguistic groups.
“Sugilanon” will also be a Filipino-American Epic Poem telling stories of the Filipino San Francisco community since 1904. Like her musical compositions, the poetic verses will be informed by the protocols of the Kalinga Epic Poem, “di Ullalim”. The CD release is scheduled for March 22, 2024.
Another culture bearer is Sentro Filipino: The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center at SOMA Pilipinas. The first-ever Baybayin Symposium is coming our way on January 27, serving as a platform that pays homage to trailblazers who have paved the way for the Baybayin (a Philippine script during pre-Spanish colonial times) resurgence.
Padayon! (Carry on!)
___
JANUARY 15, 2023 TO JANUARY 27, 2024
EVENT TITLE: Bagong Liwanag – A Baybayin Tattoo Exhibit by Jeff Quintano
TYPE OF EVENT: On-site
ORGANIZER: Jeff Quintano
WHAT: ART – First solo exhibit; First-ever tattoo exhibit hosted at a Filipino cultural center
DESCRIPTION: This showcase seeks to illuminate the positive aspects of tattooing. It aims to emphasize the profound connection between Baybayin tattoos and the younger generation’s roots, while also working to break the stigma surrounding tattoos in Filipino culture.
WHERE: Sentro Filipino: San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center
The Bulletin Building
814 Mission Street, Mezzanine Level
San Francisco, CA 94103
WHAT TIME: 1/17 at 3pm-6pm, 1/18 at 3pm-6pm, 1/20 at 1pm-5pm, 1/23 at 3pm-6pm, 1/24 at 3pm-
6pm, 1/25 at 2pm-6pm, 1/27 at 11am-5pm
HOW MUCH: Free
RSVP TO: elozada@thehinabiproject.org (inquiries)
WEBSITE: https://sentrofilipino.com/
__
JANUARY 27, 2024
EVENT TITLE: Baybayin Symposium
2 Filipino Community Events by Lorna Dietz 1.15.2024
TYPE OF EVENT: On-site
ORGANIZER(S): Sentro Filipino, PAWA Inc. and Hinabi Project; Special thanks to Edwin Lozada, Cha Cedillo @rebelmaria @orlycukui @bayaniart @kapuwaco @kristiankabuay; music by @kapitalmg
WHAT: The Baybayin symposium is significant as it represents the first-ever Baybayin gathering in the Bay Area, bringing together enthusiasts and advocates to celebrate and explore the rich cultural heritage embedded in Baybayin.
DESCRIPTION: Guest speakers include Kristian Kabuay, Ray Aguizan, Joe Aquilizan, Joselito Sering, Norman delos Santos
WHERE: Sentro Filipino: San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center
The Bulletin Building
814 Mission Street, Mezzanine Level
San Francisco, CA 94103
WHAT TIME: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm; Symposium is from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
HOW MUCH: Please inquire.
RSVP TO: elozada@thehinabiproject.org (inquiries)
RSVP BY: Please inquire.
WEBSITE: https://sentrofilipino.com/
__
JANUARY 27, 2024
EVENT TITLE: Manilatown Ancestral presents Beginning Kalinga Percussion Workshop
TYPE OF EVENT: On-site
ORGANIZER(S): Manilatown Heritage Foundation
WHAT: Beginning Kalinga Percussion (Experiential)
DESCRIPTION: Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Kalinga percussion as we explore the rhythms and beats of this traditional Filipino art form! Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this event is perfect for anyone interested in learning and appreciating the beauty of Kalinga music. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with our ancestral heritage and discover the power of percussion.
WHERE: International Hotel Manilatown Center
868 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
WHAT TIME: 2:00 pm
HOW MUCH: By donation
RSVP TO: http://tinyurl.com/mhf01272024; inquiries at mhf@manilatown.org
WEBSITE: https://manilatown.org/
__
FEBRUARY 10, 2024
EVENT TITLE: Manilatown Arts presents Club Mandalay
TYPE OF EVENT: On-site
ORGANIZER(S): Manilatown Heritage Foundation
WHAT: An afternoon of live performances
3 Filipino Community Events by Lorna Dietz 1.15.2024
DESCRIPTION: Welcome to Club Mandalay, where the music is live, the poetry is flowing, and the community is gathering! Music by the Manilatown Jazz Ensemble, Spoken Word Guest – “Sugilanon”; Ensemble, Musical Guest – Jibril’s Cool Jazz Combo
WHERE: International Hotel Manilatown Center
WHAT TIME: 2:00 pm
HOW MUCH: Free
RSVP TO: http://tinyurl.com/mhf02102024; inquiries at mhf@manilatown.org
WEBSITE: https://manilatown.org/
