Battle of the Bamboo 2019 Showcases Filipino Identity, Culture in the U.S. Midwest

Chicago, 22 February 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, through Economic Officer Ryan Francis D. Gener, participated in Battle of the Bamboo 2019: Tadhana – Choose Your Destiny held at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus on 16 February 2019.

Battle of the Bamboo is an annual cultural dance showcase that has been hosted by Filipinos in Alliance at the University of Illinois at Chicago since 2003. It has grown to attract hundreds of spectators to watch dance groups from high schools and collegiate institutions located all over the Midwest. Battle of the Bamboo aims to connect and remind today’s youth of Filipino traditions through learning, performing, and spectating cultural dance.

Filipino-American student organizations from Loyola University Chicago, Marquette University, Niles North High School, Northside College Prep, St. Louis University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign competed in the event. In between their presentations, Fil-Am organizations from Lane Tech College Prep, Moku’aina Hula, the Ohio State University and University of Illinois at Chicago provided demonstrations.

Participants performed their own renditions of traditional Filipino dances and myths, in- History Month is observed annually in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month which starts from February 1 until February 28. The Black History Month dates back to 1926 and celebrated in February which coincides with the birthday of US President Abraham Lincoln on February 12, and of Frederick Douglass on February 14. fused with their own interpretation grounded on their understanding of their Filipino identity and culture. Loyola University’s Loyola Kapwa Cultural group won for the third time in four years.

The Consulate also met briefly TFCU, which “strives to connect, inspire, and empower Filipino- American millennials helping them realize their full potential in relation to their cultural identity” through TFCU Talks around the US.

Filipino youth in the U.S. Midwest performing their rendition of a traditional Kalinga dance.