VIA Times – May 2014 Issue Vital News, Vibrant VIews for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
By: Lou Maningas Cabalona
Diversity in the Chicago Arts and Entertainment scene is truly alive in robust and subtle ways! Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Illinois native and 2013 Pepsi Southern Original winner, Andrew Salgado, a country singer-songwriter of Puerto Rican, Italian American background. On another occasion, I also interviewed the Silly People Improv Theater or SPIT Manila, the only Asian troupe chosen to be part of the 17th Chicago Improv Festival. Founder Gabe Mercado and SPIT performing alongside comedy troupes from around USA, Canada and Europe brought the house down during their stint at ComedySportz Chicago. Personally, as a Filipino American artist in Chicago and founder of Filipino Folk Fusion band, SamaSama Project, I am happy to live in a place that is committed in supporting a community that is culturally rich and vibrant! Apropos, I was invited to be moderator and panelist for a discussion on “Philippine Arts and Culture Taking Center Stage” at the first FIlAm Youth Summit in Hawaii. The event, led by fellow FilAm Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro) delegates Kit Zulueta and Randy Cortez, carried the theme #yourMovePh, challenging the FilAm youth to mobilize for the good of the community in their respective field of study or career. To sum up our lively and fruitful discussion in three words, we believe that Arts and Culture enables us to UNITE, IDENTIFY and PROGRESS as a people. It is a force that UNITES people successfully because it’s a very tangible proof of us being the same and from the same origin – our customs, art, morals, habits, belief system, values, etc. Just the fact that everyone in the room immediately warmed up to their seatmates after people shared images/descriptions of anything Filipino that they are proud of – Jollibee’s Chicken Joy, Marilyn Monroe in a Baro’t Saya – is enough proof. Because we are the same, we become aware that we have the same struggles. Arguably, more than any form of communication, the Arts, be it through performance, theater, music, film, poetry or any other form is the “spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down” so others, whether Filipino or not, can closely and vividly IDENTIFY with our stories, celebrate our successes, empathize with our challenges and hopefully actively engage in achieving our goals. Panelist Francine Maigue (San Diego) urged everyone to “tell our story” and not be content with making our presence known only by the Filipino personalities in pop culture. When asked about what stories they would like to hear/tell, one participant shared that her grandfather was one of the soldiers that fought alongside US soldiers during World War II. She wants to hear stories of valor by the unsung heroes that are our ancestors. I added that, paralleling this with present-day FilAms Vets who are still not able to receive full- citizen benefits such as non-war related disability pensions might compel people – FilAm or not – to push Congress to finally enact the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. Then, Arts and Culture, becomes our vehicle towards PROGRESS as our community establishes a united front and a powerful voice to address and take action on issues that members of the diaspora confront. In a more personal way, progress can also take the form of an improved perspective of oneself. Among the group, a mother boldly admitted struggling to reconcile her feelings about her son confessing that he is ashamed to be Filipino because he is bullied in school for belonging to a race of lawnmowers (and other menial jobs). Panelist Julien Baburka (Illinois) stepped up to share that she is a proud daughter of a domestic helper in Hong Kong who met her father on a pen pal program. She added, she is grateful her mother continued to work as cleaner to support their family even after emigrating. Finally, Arts and Culture also serves as a memoir of our progression as a people. Representing Illinois in FYLPro, I encouraged all participants to proactively “define our culture” in any field of interest, suggesting concrete steps such as promoting Filipino games for sports-minded Fil-Ams; mastering Filipino traditional forms of Medicinal Arts, such as Hilot or Bentusa for Physical Therapists or spa personnel; building a curriculum for learning our language or Filipino American History for Educators; ensuring movers and shakers in the FilAm History are honored and the community is included in the City or State’s cultural plan for those in Government, among many others. I especially called on Film Makers, Writers, Photographers, and Musicians to be diligent in “recording” artifacts and accounts of our past and our stories of the present for the benefit of future generations. In closing, Panelist Randy Cortez (Hawaii) echoes the words of Dr. Rod Labrador, saying, “We are all active participants in this evolving dialogue when it comes to developing stories about our Filipino culture”. Lessons are better learned teaching it, I came back to Chicago with a solid mission and firmer resolve to utilize my music and voice for the advancement of my people in the USA and wherever in the world. From the beautiful FilCom Center in Waipahu, we can hear the message for the Filipino American Youth loud and clear, IT’S YOUR MOVE!###
(1) Lou with Andrew Salgado, 2103 Pepsi Southern Challenge Winner; 2. Lou with Gabe Mercado, Filipino
Actor/Comedian and Founder of Silly People Improv Theater (SPIT) Manila at ComedySportz on Belmont
in Chicago.
Illinois Delegates at the FilAm Summit in Waipahu, Hawaii – Baron Cabalona, Julien Baburka and Louella
Cabalona with Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia
Panelists and Reactors for the Arts and
Culture Breakout Session at the FilAm Youth
Summit 2014. Jane Caballero Clement, Louella
Maningas Cabalona, Randy Cortez, Francine
Maigue, Julien Baburka, Rouel Velasco and Iris
Viacrusis. Not in pic is Gabriel Torno.
