SamaSama Project and Uni-Mart at Morton Grove’s Tunes On Tuesdays

By: Lou Maningas Cabalona

 

SamaSama Project , Alternative Pop group, Manic Museum and the Blue Marlin Band and many more entertained the festival goers well in to the evening! Of course, there were also lots of cultural activities, games, cooking demonstrations, bazaar and food stalls that gave attendees an authentic Filipino experience. Kudos to the festival organizers, the Philippine American Cultural Foundation and the ever-growing number of volunteers who are part of the Planning committee! Mabuhay tayong lahat!

Echoing the weekend festivities in the southwest suburbs, the Morton Grove Park District kicked off its Tunes on Tuesday Summer concert series featuring SamaSama Project last June 13! The Chicago-based band gave Morton Grove residents and guests a taste of their brand of fusion music – a blend of Filipino folk, rock, ska, and Latin music, inspired by a 1970s musical movement called Manila Sound.

The Harrer Park was packed but they also had more folks join the fun via a Facebook Live broadcast on Facebook.com/SamaSamaProject. Guests enjoyed the “island latin” versions of pop songs such as Rude and Shake it Off that drove young teens to dance on stage with the band. They also sang a number of Filipino and American classic covers.

Uni-Mart of Niles also provided Filipino favorites such as Lumpia and Pancit for the hungry concert goers. On their second set, SamaSama Project shared two original songs, “Fresh Bagoong” and “Blood Runs” which they plan to record as part of their first album to be released early next year. The group encouraged their supporters – some of whom drove many miles from Naperville, Palatine, Gurnee, Elgin and Darien – to purchase shirts and stickers, proceeds of which will go into their recording.

As the sun went down, stage lights came on at the Harrer Park Pavillion, the perfect background as SamaSama Project capped the evening with dance music while kids – from ages 3 to 93 – line danced and cha-cha’d against the twilight sky!

Check out the rest of Morton Grove Park District’s Free Concerts this Summer at mortongroveparks.com.

APPLICATIONS FOR FILIPINO YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM NOW OPEN

Every year, FYLPRO, the Filipino Young Leaders Program, initiated by the Philippine Embassy along with the Consulates General in the United States, opens the search for the 10 most outstanding, next-generation Filipino-Americans or Filipinos in the United States to participate in its distinguished Immersion Program in the Philippines.

“FYLPRO was founded to make sure our younger generation can have a seat on the table and can have a say on important issues facing the Filipino-American communities,” said Kit Zulueta, FYLPRO president and 2012 alumnae, adding “Most important, the immersion program in the Philippines makes sure we strengthen the bridge to our motherland and remind us who we truly are no matter where we are in the world.”

FYLPRO’s roster is 50-strong and the alumni are proud to be part of a close-knit family, which includes our Philippine consulates across the country. Chicago Alumni include Mark Calaguas (2016), Lakhi Siap (2015), Jan Paul Ferrer and Abbey Eusebio (2014), Julien Buenaventura (2013) and Louella Maningas Cabalona (2012).

Deadline for submission is on July 7, 2017. Interested individuals can check out Fylpro.org for more details or attend in person during scheduled FYLPRO Info Sessions throughout June and July. As of this writing, the Chicago Info Session and Town Hall is scheduled for June 29. Please contact the Chicago Philippine Consulate for details (www.ChicagoPCG. com).

Louella Maningas Cabalona is a singer, actor, and Senior Manager for Business Analytics, Sears Holdings. She is the lead singer of the Filipino Folk band, SamaSama Project; an active Board member of the League of Volunteers for Relief Expeditions and the Young Business United and is one of the inaugural delegates of the FYLPRO Immersion program of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. She is passion- ate about sharing Filipino culture in the modern world and actively supports all out- standing Filipinos around the globe. If you would like to connect, email louellarose@ gmail.com

Morton Grove Kids – Engaging on Stage with Singer Louella Maningas Cabalona and SamaSama Project! Shown left: Rhythm Guitarist/Backing Vocalist Ran Ran at Tunes on Tuesday at Morton Grove Park District’s Harrer Park (Photo by/ Copyright 2017 Rieny G. Cualoping for ENERI Communications)

Chicago-based Filipino Folk Fusion band, SamaSama Project performing on the Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center stage (Photo by: Jay Flores, Castillo Studios)

Front Row; Veronica Leighton, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, VIA Times Newsmagazine and Executive Producer/Host, Chicago Philippine Reports TV; Back Row: L. to r.: Piyesta Pinoy Bolingbrook 2017 Chair and Philippine American Cultural Foundation leader Ruben Salazar; Joe Mauricio, Business Manager and Columnist, VIA Times Newsmagazine and Videographer, Chicago Philippine Reports TV; Lead Singer Louella Maningas Cabalona of SamaSama Project band; Ed Ramos, Morton Grove Trustee; community leader Merle Salazar and Irene (ENERI/Rieny) Cualoping, Managing Partner, ENERI Communications, Agency of Record for UNI-MART Niles. (SP Photo Courtesy Ruben Salazar/Copyright 2017 ENERI Communications)

The band, SamaSama Project at the Harrer Park Pavillion for Tunes On Tuesday — Giga Yanong on Saxophone, EJ Luna on Bass Guitar, Lead Singer Louella Rose, Baron Cabalona on Drums, John Kniker on Lead Guitars, Freddy Rodriquez on Trumpets

Baron Cabalona (left) and Louella Rose with honored guests at Piyesta Pinoy 2017. Consul General Generoso DG Calonge (2nd from left), Congressman Salvador Belaro Jr and Bolingbrook Roger Claar.

A quick selfie with organizers and hosts of the Piyesta Pinoy 2017. Clockwise from upper left, Producer Gerry Rebello, PACF Leader Ruben Salazar, National Anthem Singers Louella Rose and Emilio Nicolasin, Director Anna Millan, Baron Cabalona taking the selfie, Hosts Alpha Nicolasin and Lakhi Siap