MFSF 2017: Filipino`s Way of Giving Back

Levy Abad

courtesy of MFSF

It has been another successful year for the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival, where thousands of folks came to appreciate the multiculturalism  of the province. Now on its 6th year, the MFSF continues to showcase Filipino culture through dance, music, food, costume and the thousands of smiles as its way of giving back to the province, home to 80 thousand  Filipinos.

As an ordinary worker, I deeply appreciate the tireless effort of the leaders of the MFSF chairperson Aida Champagne, Ley Navarro and Jun Isla, organizers and volunteers who helped in making the event a successful one.  Just going around with my friends Henry Heller, Professor of History at the UofM and Pablo Herrera, chair of Las Americas and Chilean Human Rights Council, made me forget all the stresses of life, which an industrial society can cause. Truly, the Filipino diaspora appreciates this successful event where people gather, meet and celebrate life.

As a social activist, one should not only appreciate the federal and international dimensions of the struggle but should also comprehend the simple wish of ordinary people to have fun through dance and music and this is where basic cultural activism comes into play. I deeply appreciate leaders who immerse themselves in this event selflessly just to be with the people who are not centred on ideologies and political tendencies. As what the poem of Lao Tze said back in 360 BC, “go in search of your people, love them, learn from them, plan with them, serve them, begin with what they know and build on what they have.....”

Just like in the last MFSF 2016, UNIFOR MB, CUPE MB, and MGEU were once again present in solidarity with the Filipino community.  They marched in the parade and also had their booths along Broadway in appreciation of the community’s effort to give back and show its colour so that the people will know where the community is coming from.  The Filipino community appreciates the labour movements’ contribution for building a Manitoba with health care and other social safety nets which serves  ordinary Filipino folks too .

courtesy of Nelson "Nonie" Manalili 

I cannot help but be proud of my people knowing that as first and second generation immigrants we take on heavy burdens by having two jobs to save and still muster strength to sacrifice time by organizing events like this. The different associations in the Filipino community participated by making beautiful floats to represent their respective provinces in the Philippines.  Along Memorial Boulevard, you will smell the scent, see and taste the different recipes that the community can offer.

When I arrived at the scene, the first performer I heard was Arnold Tongol  of Traffikk Jamm who was covering Versace on the Floor by Bruno Mars, who as many of us know, is half-Filipino. Even my sound engineer friend said that Arnold ``has the pipes.``  He really did justice to the song.  Later in the afternoon, another brother Rodel Olesco performed my song “You and Me.”  I am grateful to Bobit Nepomuceno for arranging the song as well as to the MFSF sound engineer Chris Brett of Audioworks for providing a great mix. What a day when the stars all aligned and things happen favourably. Best birthday gift I ever had as a songwriter /composer.  Also included in the program were Sayan Project, Suban Band, Quarter 2, Emogen Ventura, Vina Dimayuga, Dolly Urtal-Atillo of the Ragdolls and the 12/21 Band. The music and the colours of the day were awesome and reflective of the cultural influences of the Filipino community.

From the inception of the MFSF up to the present, I have witnessed the challenges of building the organization and deeply appreciate the heavy responsibility that the leaders took on their shoulders throughout the six gruelling years of gathering people and resources to sustain the endeavor. I would like to express my gratefulness to the leadership for always allowing me to be a part of the performances as it gives me a chance to sing songs that tell about the journey and struggles of our people. I hope that the present leadership who has already proven its capacity will not relinquish their responsibility until an able set of new leaders is ready to take on the task.  Looking forward to another great year of the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival. May God bless us all!