Levy Abad's Articles and Poems: 2017

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Christmas, A Subversive Gift!

Winnipeg Ethnic News Vol.1 Issue No.1 , December 15, 2017

The Diversity Times December 9, 2017

Levy Abad

What's wrong with Christmas trees, colourful lights, buying and giving gifts for our loved ones? While I was reflecting on the answer to this question, I was reminded of the song of Michael Jackson, Give Love on Christmas Day. Whether one is a Catholic, Orthodox, a member of the United Church of Canada, mainstream, protestant or evangelical, each has his or her way of celebrating Christmas usually by giving gifts. With this tradition comes the commercialization of Christmas, which others see as opportunistic and shunned by some people. Well, who’s to blame? The Christmas business is just an offshoot of the collective psyche of people rooted in a two thousand year old tradition called Christianity. Opportunities like this cannot escape the dynamics of capitalism.

Take out the concept of life, liberation and redemption as a gift of God, rooted in the scripture and what would we be celebrating? John 3:16 says that "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Indeed, the birth of Jesus triggered changes in consciousness.

All Christendom or even other belief systems share the idea that it is better to give than to receive. This is the time of the year that most migrants all over the world will be sending gifts to their loved ones in line with the Christmas tradition. Christmas is continuously observed so that the elementary message of giving will be ingrained in society. Who cares whether it is the actual Christmas or just a theological one, as long as the tradition of giving gifts to loved ones is continued and observed.

Matthew 5:29 says, "If your eye (evil eye / ayin raah) causes you to sin, you must tear it out at once and cast it from you.” This verse is about the concept of good eye and evil eye, which most people misunderstood without digging into the Hebraic / Aramaic idiomatic root of the concept. The evil eye referred to by Matthew is about stinginess or greediness. If one is stingy, how could a person do acts of righteousness, compassion and mercy, among other things? All these revolutionary values start out with giving without expecting anything in return, the true meaning of Christianity. Essentially, activism is the spirit of Christmas done everyday.

Jesus’ birth two thousand years ago is a gift of life. He led a revolutionary life that ended in crucifixion (martyrdom) for the salvation of many. Hundreds of years ago, Caesar was considered the son of God, but with the birth of Jesus and the life that Jesus led, the Roman Empire crumbled in a protracted manner. Caesar is no more, but Rome, as the seat of Christendom and all its “strands,” still stands. What greatest gift can one ask for aside from this?

Majority of the apostles offered their lives as part of the story of remembrance and resistance, a subversive memory of giving and selfless love. With this great message, let us celebrate the holiday season by remembering our friends and those who cannot celebrate Christmas because of their current situation. Let us offer gifts and embrace the spirit of sharing, giving and of letting go, of embracing life by sharing it. It is only through this that we can experience the true meaning of this season. Every gift that we give is like a seed that grows in the heart of the giver and receiver. It is the only way to freedom, the radical nature of truth, and the liberation of life. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

( This article was originally published under the title ,"Christmas, A Celebration of Life! in The Diversity Times and Winnipeg Ethnic News December 15, 2017 issue. )

(Levy Abad is a freelance writer and also a singer songwriter/recording artist and a member of Migrante Canada-Mb chapter and also a founding member/ program coordinator of Winnipeg Multicultural Human Rights Forum, Levy has released four albums , Canadian Experience Vol. 1 (iTunes ), Never Give Up and Rhythms of Compassion CanEx 3.and for June 2017 ,"Tara ng Maglakbay". You can reach Levy Abad through , lev67.abad@yahoo.ca or on Faceb

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Christmas, A Subversive Gift!

Winnipeg Ethnic News Vol.1 Issue No.1 , December 15, 2017

The Diversity Times December 9, 2017

Levy Abad

Monday, December 18, 2017

Steinbach Filipino Christmas
Filipino Journal Vol.31 Number 24 , December 22 to January 5, 2018

Levy Abad 12/10/2017

On December 2^nd, I traveled to Steinbach to attend the South East Manitoba Filipino Association (SEMFA) Christmas Party. I was happy to respond to the invitation of the President of the Association, Kris Ontong, to perform original compositions about migrant life and struggles. I drove to Steinbach excited about the prospect of performing my songs. I was not disappointed, folks told me after the performance that they like the songs. The songs made them teary- eyed. They laughed and smiled as they reflect on their migrant experiences while I sing lines from my song “Na-Shock Ako” (available on ITunes).

The Christmas celebration was a big success. About two hundred fifty people filled the Pat Porter Active Living Centre. It was a fun and exciting evening. There were prizes and live performances by musicians like NAMBA, P-Noise and Los Amigos. Aside from entertainment, members and guests enjoyed different varieties of delicious food. The event was graced by the Mayor of Steinbach, Chris Goertzen, and the MP for Provencher, Hon. Theodore “Ted” Falk. I also saw my lawyer friends Gary Sarcida and Daniel Cleto from Pullan Kammerloch Frohlinger and my friend Won Jae Song of Diversity Times .

Steinbach Manitoba, according Jorie Alivio Sawatzky, the founding Chair of SEMFA, can boast of the presence of approximately one thousand five hundred (1,500) Filipinos actively participating in the economy of the City. This data is also confirmed by Kris Ontong. He added that “there is a constant flux of 50 to 100 Filipinos arriving yearly on average.” Edwin Sonsona, a friend and long-time Steinbach resident, relayed that most Pinoys work in barns of HYLIFE, Maple Leaf, ProVista Agriculture Ltd., as well as non-barn jobs in companies like Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Granny’s Poultry Cooperative, Loewen Windows and Doors, Barkman Concrete, to mention a few. According to Raymond Chua, SEMFA President back in 2015, there’s approximately a thousand Filipinos in Steinbach, including children. Given these figures, one can estimate the notable presence of the Filipino community. Aside from their economic contributions, Filipinos of Steinbach work hard to keep the culture alive. This can be seen in events like the 2015 Pioneer Days Parade that showcases diverse cultural forms reflective of the Philippine history, customs and tradition.

Jorie Alivio Sawatzky was gracious enough to provide me with the list of leaders of SEMPA through the years. In October 28, 2006, Jorie was elected as the Interim President who will later assume the presidency on March 31, 2007 to March 2009. Jun Narvaez became its second President from March 2009 to 2011. He was followed by Rommel Gallego (March 2011 to 2013), Cesar Valdez (March 2013 to 2015), Raymund Chua (March 2015 to 2017) and Kris Ontong (2017 to 2019). These leaders were and continue to be instrumental in laying down the requisites of unity that SEMFA has exemplified.

Going over the Facebook page of SEMFA, one can see a lot of things going on in their organization. Although SEMFA was primarily organized as a support system for newly-arrived immigrants in Steinbach, it also participated in numerous events like the Annual Pioneer Days Parade, as mentioned earlier, Summer in the City, Cultures in the City where SEMFA sells Pinoy barbeque and hosts musical presentations, both traditional and contemporary (source: Kris Ontong), Volunteers Appreciation and programs to welcome newcomers, Pick Up and Walk (for a Clean and Healthy City). SEMFA also organized workshops on different immigration concerns like the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program in cooperation with the Friends of Filipino Immigrants in Mb (FFIM). SEMFA also joined events sponsored by Eastman Immigrant Services like “An Evening of Fun” at the Mennonite Heritage Village. Indeed, to be a part of the leadership team of SEMFA is not a walk in the park, but involves dedication and sacrifice in serving the people of Steinbach. From the first Chair of SEMFA and the succeeding leaders who tirelessly gathered the community through the years up to the present, leadership is really a significant achievement in itself.

Kris Ontong has this to say about the Association: “SEMFA Council is proud to cap-off the year with a well-attended Christmas Party that doubles as a membership sign-up/renewal event. The feedback has been very positive about the new features that were introduced in the event, e.g. Interac machine for payment convenience, major raffle prizes that boosted ticket sales and a featured kababayan performer whose songs resonated deeply with the Filipino immigrants of the area. Earlier this year, many other improvements were brought into SEMFA and they all resulted in increase interest in the association, bringing in new members to the Facebook group and more volunteers helping out in projects and activities. These achievements are worth pointing out as they were accomplished by just a handful of Council Officers and some dedicated volunteers. Next year, the restructuring of the SEMFA Council will begin so that it will be made up of representatives from the different job sectors of the region. It is our hope that SEMFA members will take part in this historic transition to make the association stronger and more reflective of the community that we live in.”

Again, I would like to thank the President of SEMFA Kris Ontong and the whole team for inviting me over to perform migrant songs that reflect our experiences in the Canadian diaspora. I can’t wait to write a song about Steinbach Pinoys and their stories. For what is the worth of art and culture if not used to reflect our people’s experiences of success and struggles. Truly, after all the events they organized, our Kababayans in Steinbach deserve to celebrate the best Christmas Party ever. Congratulations to all my Kababayans in Steinbach. Mabuhay and until we meet again!!!

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Free Francisca Linconao: Resistimos! Part 2
Levy Abad

Meeting and discussing about indigenous issues is good, but in the long term worthless if not matched by action. Any seed must touch the ground in order to grow. Karl Marx in his “Eleven Theses on Feuerbach" said, “Philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change the world." The simple idea must be concretized into a forum where significant discussions occur. We were fortunate to have the following as our guests in the forum, Radhika Desai, a professor and author of the book “Geopolitical Economy” who spoke on Neoliberalism and Its impact on Indigenous Rights, Wanda Luna Galdames who presented the Chilean Perspective and Peter Kulchysky, professor and author of the “Indigenous Rights are not Human Rights”, who discussed Mapuche Issues and Struggles. Henry Heller, another author (The Birth of Capitalism, A Twenty-First-Century Perspective), delivered a poem by Berttolt Brect. The speakers analyzed the issues from the global perspective down to the local level to crystallize understanding and pave the way for further solidarity with the Mapuche struggle.

Source: Vancouver Media Coop

Aside from the speeches, it was also interspersed with songs not as entertainment, but culturally to reinforce the message and rouse the listeners to care and move to organize and resist. Reflecting on history of the social movements of the 60s to the 90s, cultural forms of education were quite effective in rousing the people to participate in movements for change. The participation of Johsa Manzanilla, a singer-songwriter and human rights activist, and Maree Rodriguez, who delivered “spoken word" piece, are important in raising awareness about the issue. Acts of solidarity by Zully Trujillo, who recited a poem and also Francisco Valenzuela, who expressed a message of solidarity, are equally commendable. The event ended up with the song “Imagine” by John Lennon performed by Jason Schreyer, who is also a great artist and performer.

Admirable was the role of some members of the academe for their collective effort in making the Francisca Linconao event possible. Thanks to grassroots organizers like Pablo Herrera and Simon Baer of Las Americas and Chilean Human Rights Council, a founding organization of Winnipeg Multicultural Human Rights Forum or WMHRF, Migrante Manitoba, Ana Vergara of the Winnipeg Chilean Association and its cultural branch “Grupo Quidel” and to Johanna Quintana of the Manitoba Chilean Association with its cultural arm “Grupo Rumel”, Ian Desales of Serve The People-Winnipeg and Ali Saaed of the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP) and one of the founding members of WMHRF, for supporting the forum. Simon Baer also asserted that Pablo Herrera was instrumental in organizing the event. He networked with many of his Chilean comrades and friends and invited huge number of people to participate. Without his hard work and commitment, our event would not have been as successful.

So, what's happening next? The Francisca Linconao committee will continue on drumbeating the issue and write a series of articles revolving around the struggles of the Mapuche of Chile. Anybody interested is welcome to join the forum for change. The hope is to slowly organize a movement for change with a clear perspective towards contributing in building a just society through solidarity, ever weary of movementism that serves as a tail and subtle instrument of imperialism and its monstrous neoliberal facade.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Heber Bartolome Rocks Winnipeg!
Levy Abad
Filipino Journal September 20-October 5,2017, Vol.31 NO 18, P28

Courtesy of HB Digiphoto

Sunday night (September 10th) proved to be a great evening at the Canton Buffet Food Gallery where the legendary Filipino troubadour singer-songwriter, painter and De La Salle Professor of Filipino Literature Heber Bartolome performed his socially relevant songs to an attentive crowd of more or less three hundred. It was indeed a smooth and profound presentation of social issues through songs. There were also a lot of folks who gave generous tips for Heber to sing his hit songs. Heber performed with his son Kris Bartolome who was a former high school arts teacher at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

As early as late sixties and up to now, Heber Bartolome, as a folk singer, consistently sings socially critical songs that ordinary folks and conscious listeners can connect. His songs like "Tayo’y mga Pinoy" (We are Pinoys) remains relevant as it calls for independence from empire. Another song is “Nena” which reflects on the impact of impoverishment and how it compels people to embrace miserable choices such as prostitution among other things. Other songs like “Karaniwang Tao” (Ordinary People) depicts the struggles of the ordinary working man against a rotten and moribund system, “Lerry” tells about the radical options that people embrace in times of oppression and the persecution that comes with it. “Tagulaylay” (Lamentation) centers on the poor peasants’ lament about the yoke of feudalism. These, including the song “Almusal” (Breakfast) are songs people both in the homeland and in the diaspora can relate to. Heber’s songs transcend time as it never focuses on personality cult but on real or concrete issues of the day as well as on progressive ideology.

Courtesy of HB Digiphoto

During the dark days of the dictatorship in the ‘70s, Heber Bartolome and Banyuhay articulated songs about the people's experiences, while some other artists served as purveyors of foreign decadent culture. Heber, for his part, raised questions that subverted people’s consciousness. The album 'Kalamansi sa Sugat" (Lemon on a Wound) contains radical pieces that roused and moved people to yearn and march for freedom leading to the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in the 1986 people's uprising.

This is why FAJ Productions’ invitation to Heber to perform in Winnipeg is of great significance. Heber’s songs are like seeds of compassion and a call to people not to forget the motherland. In the midst of the experience of affluence in the North and also the blinding effect of the neon lights that can make one abandon the suffering of our people, Heber’s songs conscientisize and call for a radical critique and transformation.

Thanks to Jhayzon Parades, Mar Mance, Zaldy Ordonez of C&K Music for initiating this great event that gave tribute to the lives of martyrs for social change in the motherland. They keep the beacon light of struggle in the field of culture ever burning when only embers of patriotism is left due to bourgeoisification in the first world diaspora.

Aside from yours truly, Humus Band also did the front act. Several artists sessioned with Heber: Mar Mance (back-up vocals), Jhayzon Paredes (bass), Kris Bartolome (lead guitar), Zaldy Ordoñez (lead guitar), Andy Atanacio (drums) and Rod Dizon (drums/ kahon). Members of the 204Live Music jammed with Heber, among them were: Paul Menor (guitar), Alex Canlapan, Henry Balanial and Trixer Bautista.

Courtesy of HB Digiphoto

The event was also an opportunity for some activist friends to come together: Susan Rodriguez of Migrante-Manitoba, Johsa Manzanilla of Aksyon ng Ating Kabataan (Anak), Robin Allan Banaag (songwriter), Daniel Tabooy and Juliet Flores the chairperson of Association of Cordillerans of Manitoba (ACM), Arnold Tongol (SMD of WFG- Winnipeg), Adelle Lumanta, Kuya Felino De Jesus of the Knights of Rizal, Ernesto Ofiaza of MAFTI and Ingemar Moncada. Also worthy to mention is the fraternity of Heber, The “Kapatirang Plebeians” of the University of the Philippines represented by Zaldy Laririt, Antonio and Fleda Blanco, Demy Santos and Doy Valenciano. .

The event would not have been possible without the support of the following sponsors: JJ Cabinet, C&K Music, Canton Food Gallery, Mance Financial Services, Vangie's Hair Effects, HB Digiphoto, Funshots Winnipeg, Ardie Gervacio, Frank Rano and many more

I am proud to say that I have performed with Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome and brothers Jes and Levi Bartolome as a front-act in one of his concerts in Mississauga and Scarborough, Ontario back in 2010. It was a full venue and folks really loved listening to original and socially reflective music, with lines like "Gising ka man kung 'di ka kikilos parang patay ka rin" (Even if you are awake but you never struggle for change, you are dead) from the song "Inutil na Gising" (Awake but Inutile). Heber Bartolome’s songs are products of his experience of poverty. His compassion for the oppressed continues to challenge our consciousness. As a revolutionary songwriter, we write songs that give hope to others, but in times of our weakness, these same songs come back to haunt us to never give up serving the people in whatever field we are in. Thanks a lot Kuya Heber for your contribution to our motherland's culture. May the God of Peace and Change bless you in your journey while spreading the message of compassion and solidarity.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

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!

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

After Touch: Winnipeg’s Top Band of the 90’s (Part 2)

Levy Abad
The Diversity Times , August 10,2017

Some Testimonies

Most of the performances of After Touch were with visiting famous artists from the Philippines. As mentioned in the first part of my article, the band members are known to be able to read notes and so it was easy for them to session with visiting Philippine artists. When Rey Valera arrived in Winnipeg, he asked After Touch to session and gave the group two days to prepare. I have noticed this talent first hand when I performed with Jojo as a sessionist during the MYMP and Jireh Lim’s concerts here in the Peg. Jojo can easily master the pieces since he can read notes, compared to musicians who have to listen and study the song first. Jojo is also a versatile musician. He can play bass guitar, rhythm guitars and play lead. He can also do lead and back-up vocals. Jojo’s background can be traced to folk Rock and country music, but he is also open to a wide variety of genre. He is equally able to arrange and lead as he did with earlier bands that he formed here in the Peg.

When I asked Jon Jon Natoc for a testimony, he said that he and his brother Ricky Natoc were greatly influenced by Frank Urbano in terms of their musicality. He furthered that when they became part of After Touch, what they knew before about music was just basic, but under the influence of Frank Urbano, they took a qualitative leap. Jon Jon noted that they were challenged by Frank to excel and do research to further develop themselves as musicians. Jon pointed out that being with After Touch was one of the best parts of his life where his self-esteem was really boosted and his confidence was developed.

Jon Jon Rigor Natoc on Keys

This level of musicality that they have reached also has a bearing on their musical craft. I have listened to some of the materials of After Touch and the tracks sound awesome. The materials or tracks were mixed by Paul Morrow. Unfortunately, they were not released. Anyway, I am still hoping that these materials will be recovered and launched one day as it is a part of the Filipino community’s spirit of the 1990’s. I asked Jon Jon if they had originals and he mentioned a couple of songs like “Kaibigan,” which lyrics were written by Jojo Yso, music and arrangement were done by Frank Urbano. Another song was “Buti na lang,” lyrics/music by Jonjon Natoc and arranged by the whole band. Last but not the least is their third song titled “Ilaw ng Pasko,” which is frequently played by CKJS during Christmas. This song was written and arranged by Frank Urbano.

Jon Jon Natoc explained that when After Touch was not doing sessions, they usually cover a variety of songs, mostly Top 40. In terms of genre, he added that they are mainly RnB, Pop, Jazz among others.

Places where the band performed

Jojo named some of the prestigious places where After Touch performed. The band performed twice at the Concert Hall, four times at the Pantages and five or more at the Burton Cummings. Jojo recalls that whenever After Touch does a concert, they can easily muster an audience of 500. To be able to attract a huge crowd in the community back in the 90s, is indeed a great feat. Unlike the earlier bands like Cobra of Butch Jularbal or Jade band that performed outside Winnipeg, After Touch was mostly involved in big performances in the City, often catering to Filipino audience.

Hoping for a Reunion

After playing as a group for several years, After Touch members parted ways in 2011. It was not until 2016 that some of After Touch members started to perform again in QPAM’s event under the band name HEXXA. The drummer in this particular event was Joseph David and the vocalist was Arlene Samaniego. This gig was followed by a planned performance at the Octoberfest that was organized by Winnipeg’s Filipino Beer Fest and Vocal Arts Centre of Jose “Bobbit” Nepomuceno. Unfortunately, the plan did not materialize. A lot of people who know the quality of the band’s performances were a bit frustrated, but they are still hopeful that one of these days, the group will have a reunion and give the community their best show.

Outsiders’ view

Hanging out in the different malls and restaurants frequented by compatriots, I learned that even the seniors in the community have something good to say about After Touch. Mar Cadiz, a friend and a regular of La Merage Restaurant told me that After Touch was really excellent and was really admired back in the 90s in Winnipeg’s growing Filipino community. Arnold Tongol, a friend crooner of the Band Traffikk Jamm and a senior marketing director of WFG has this to say, “Watching After Touch Band is like watching a complete sound/music and the vocal harmonies are top notch. If you close your eyes, it is like listening to a pre-recorded music.” To this description the only thing that I can say is, Wow!

I’ve been writing articles and chronicling the Filipino bands of Winnipeg from the early 70’s. It will be a great disservice to miss out on After Touch as a premiere band of the Filipino community. I cannot claim that this article is exhaustive as this is just an overview of the band’s story, but somebody has to start the process of gathering information and putting it on record to be remembered. It is my hope that other writers will share in raising the musicians’ stories to a literary level. To paraphrase a famous statement of an Asian revolutionary and poet, “A people without culture is a dull witted people.”

(Levy Abad is a freelance writer and also a singer songwriter/recording artist and a member of Migrante Canada-Mb chapter and also a founding member/ program coordinator of Winnipeg Multicultural Human Rights Forum, Levy has released four albums , Canadian Experience Vol. 1 (iTunes ), Never Give Up and Rhythms of Compassion CanEx 3. and "Tara ng Maglakbay"( June2017). You can reach Levy Abad through , lev67.abad@yahoo.ca or on Facebook.).

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Free Francisca Linconao: Resistimos!
Levy Abad

source: midiacoletiva.org

Seemingly, small events such as a forum of a hundred people may be perceived insignificant by the eye of the unconscientisized, but to anybody who understands the process of building a movement, it is a small step that can lead to change. A month ago, I have no knowledge whatsoever about Francisca Linconao until I was invited by Pablo Herrera and Simon Baer to a meeting to discuss about indigenous struggles here in Canada and around the world. It was suggested that we talk about Francisca Linconao.

I learned from this meeting that Francisca Linconao is an indigenous spiritual leader from the Mapuche tribe (the largest indigenous group in Chile), who was imprisoned for resisting “Neoliberalism’s encroachment on ancestral lands through the construction of dams, highways”, mining and what not. If a national symbol like Francisca Linconao, a spiritual leader, can be jailed for standing up for the Mapuche, what about the fate of ordinary grassroot activists who tirelessly organize in the locality and are usually ignored by corporate media. Researching on YouTube, I found a lot of branding, surveillance and imprisonment done by the state security forces against Mapuche Indigenous activists. According to the article of Luis Campos Munoz, “there are now over 100 Mapuche political prisoners in Chilean jails, many of whom are members of the Arauco-Coordinator (CAM), a Mapuche organization made up of 160 indigenous communities.” All this reminds me of the same struggles of the Lumads of Southern Philippines in resisting global mining corporations.

My curiosity about Francisca Linconao helped me understand that “the Mapuche have been credited as being the only native-American to have successfully resisted the conquest of the Spanish Empire, due in part to their guerilla like military strategy, high adaptability and largely decentralized political system. The Arauco War between the Spanish colonial forces and the Mapuche begun in1550, almost a decade after the arrival of the Spaniards in 1841, and according to contemporary historians, lasted for more than a century, transitioning to a more subtle and intermittent conflict, which lasted up until 1883” (Tobias Sean -Fontecilla).

Any rudimentary understanding of Capitalism teaches that “it must expand or die.” In the book lent to me by Henry Heller, “The Blood Of Extraction : Canadian Imperialism in Latin America “ by Todd Gordon and Jeffrey R. Webber, I was shocked to learn about the policies that guide the government in its approach to Latin America and Chile, in particular. This book reminded me of the outcome of nationalist, progressive or worse, socialist government that tried to chart an independent course of development during the time of the CIA-backed coup d'état against Salvador Allende for instance, who was a Socialist. In the Philippines, Gina Lopez, the only progressive Environment Secretary ever appointment by President Rodrigo Duterte, was rejected by the comprador-dominated Commission of Appointments of Congress for her firm stand to protect the environment in areas where most of the indigenous communities are concentrated. She was replaced by a former General.

In the 70’s, neo-liberalism became a popular concept. It was for a time referred to as globalization in the Philippines where it means liberalization of policies or dismantling of protective measures. When people, led by movements adhering to socialist ideology, resists in a comprehensive way, the fangs of monopoly capital counter by eliminating the activists or prophets of the people, branding them as enemies of the state. After 9/11, no matter how legitimate the issues were, came the blanket terrorist tag. In Chile however, this reactionary measure happened earlier with “the counter terrorist act formulated in 1984 under the Pinochet military dictatorship, in order to more efficiently control and repress the opposition.” In 2001, the Counter-Terrorist Act was subjected to reform in order to accommodate the “Mapuche problem” (Chile’s biased Counter- Terrorist laws by Tobias Sean Fontecilla). This act is the reactionary basis of the Francisca Linconao's case where she was branded as engaging in terrorist activities. What happened to the so called restoration of Democracy in Chile? Hence, in the face of the comprehensive attacks on people's rights, the communities must go on organizing consciousness-raising events as a form of resistance and not slumber. No matter how small the effort, the struggle must go on.

Meeting and discussing about indigenous issues is good, but in the long term worthless, if not matched by action. Any seed must touch the ground in order to grow. Karl Marx in his “Eleven Theses on Feuerbach“ said, “Philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change the world.” The simple idea must be concretized into a forum where significant discussions occur. We were fortunate to have the following as our guests in the forum, Radhika Desai, a professor and author of the book “Geopolitical Economy” who spoke on Neoliberalism and its impact on Indigenous rights, Wanda Luna Galdames who presented the Chilean Perspective and Peter Kulchysky, professor and author of the “Indigenous Rights are not Human Rights”, who discussed Mapuche Issues and Struggles. Henry Heller, another author ( The Birth of Capitalism, A Twenty-First-Century Perspective ) , delivered a poem by Berttolt Brect. The speakers analyzed the issues from the global perspective down to the local level to crystallize understanding and pave the way for further solidarity with the Mapuche struggle.

Source: Vancouver Media Coop

Aside from the speeches, it was also interspersed with songs not as entertainment, but culturally to
reinforce the message and rouse the listeners to care and move to organize and resist. Reflecting on history of the social movements of the 60s to the 90s, cultural forms of education were quite effective in rousing the people to participate in movements for change. The participation of Johsa Manzanilla , a singer songwriter and human rights activist, together with Maree Rodriguez, who delivered “spoken word “ piece, is important in raising awareness about the issue. Acts of solidarity by Zully Trujillo, who recited a poem and also Francisco Valenzuela, who expressed a message of solidarity, are equally commendable. The event ended up with the song “Imagine” by John Lennon performed by Jason Schreyer, who is also a great artist and performer.

Admirable was the role of some members of the academe for their collective effort in making the Francisca Linconao event possible. Thanks to grassroots organizers like Pablo Herrera and Simon Baer of Las Americas and Chilean Human Rights Council, a founding organization of Winnipeg Multicultural Human Rights Forum or WMHRF, Migrante Manitoba, Ana Vergara of the Winnipeg Chilean Association and its cultural branch “Grupo Quidel” and to Johanna Quintana of the Manitoba Chilean Association with its cultural arm “Grupo Rumel”, Ian Desales of Serve The People-Winnipeg and Ali Saaed of the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP) and one of the founding members of WMHRF, for supporting the forum. Simon Baer also asserted that Pablo Herrera was instrumental in the organizing of the event. He networked with many of his Chilean comrades and friends and invited huge number of people to participate. Without his hard work and commitment, our event would not have been as successful.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

After Touch: Winnipeg’s Top Band of the 90’s (Part 1 )

Levy Abad
The Diversity Times
July 2017,Vol 6, No.7

The Prime band of the 90’s

After Touch Band

After Touch was a premiere band of the Filipino community during the early 90s. It was formed after the band Exodus, whose members were Jojo Yso, Ronald Legaspi, JonJon Rigor Natoc, Frederick “Ricky” Natoc, Jun Magnaye and Willy Liwanag, disbanded.

In our phone conversation (March 18, 2017), Jojo Yso told me that it was in September 1993 that After Touch was formed. Jojo shared that a lot of musicians wanted to be members of After Touch and that they usually get paid during that time (between 1993 to 2012), a thousand per gig.

Where it all started?

Jojo Yso recalls that he was approached by the Alcera Family and Tita Zeny Gonzales of Richway Insurance, who were the producers of the show (Super Live Concert) if he has a band, and in particular, musicians who are adept at reading notes. The context during this time, according to Jojo, was Exodus just got disbanded as Jun Magnaye had to migrate to the U.S with his family. Jojo explained, “I started calling up prospects for the sessionistas. I first phoned JonJon Natoc (keys) to ask him if he reads notes and if he wants to play with me in a concert. Then I called Ricky Natoc (drums). I also tried to call Willy and asked him if he is familiar with reading music sheets to which he replied he doesn’t. Back then I used to play with Frank Urbano at St. Edward’s Church where he was the bass player. I remember he would bring music sheets then when we play together. So I called him and asked if he is interested in playing with a group of Pinoy musicians and told him about the upcoming concert and Frank accepted my invitation” (J.Yso, May 22, 2017).

The first meeting of this band took place at the house of Austin Natoc, who I usually refer to as Kuya Boy, also a musician. Kuya Boy Natoc is the father of JonJon and Frederick ``Ricky`` Natoc who are the founding members of After Touch. Basically, Jojo Yso is the initiator of After Touch.

Sessionistas

Jojo shared that After Touch was formed as a sessionist band in the September 1993 “SUPERLIVE concert” for Ogie Alcasid, Rachel Alejandro, Raymond Lauchengco and Lou Veloso. Jojo continued, “In 1994, a concert titled “Sama-sama Together,“ spearheaded by CKJS, featured performances of our talents and fronted by Neil Cruz and a few other performers. In 1995, the group performed at the World Beat concert. Another concert was organized by Vigcor Music School in 1997 where After Touch performed. From 1996 to 2001, After Touch performed at Famous organized concerts. The first solo concert of the band, “A Night with the After Touch,” was held on February 16, 2002. Also in this same year, After Touch sessioned with Rey Valera, Vehnee Saturno and Nadine Roxas. Another fundraising event for the PCCM titled “Building Together” happened at the Centennial Concert Hall where After Touch sessioned for Ma-Anne Dionisio of Miss Saigon. In November 24, 2002, After Touch also performed as an opening act for Ariel Rivera’s Canadian Tour at the Pantages. Come 2007, Jaya, Basil Valdez and Willie Nepomuceno did a concert and After Touch either performed as front act or as sessionist. They sessioned for Erik Santos (2009) and for Allan K., Pokyaw and Gisselle Sanchez (2010). Just looking at the line-up of famous artists from the Philippines that After Touch sessioned with, is really significant. Most of these famous artists travel with their managers who are meticulous on how they would sound on stage. I, myself, a low profile artist, is really ticked whenever the audio is mediocre, so how much more with these professionals. All this proves that After Touch was indeed Winnipeg’s premiere band from the 90`s up to early 2000’s.

After Touch Members

After Touch members were: Jojo Yso, the founder (acoustic and lead guitars), Frank Urbano (bass player band leader and arranger), Jun Urbano (second keys), Jon Jon Natoc ( 1^st keys and who mixed for the band after Frank Urbano), Frederick “Ricky” Natoc (drums) Darius Dandan (saxophone player), Maui Zamora (percussionist doing bongos ,conga etc ).

What with the Band’s name?

Curious about the band’s name, I asked Jojo Yso where the name After Touch came from. He said that it was a group’s choice. In simple terms, he explained that when one taps a keyboard then presses it, a sound is produced called the After Touch. Another anecdote was relayed by Jon Jon Natoc that back in the 90`s, After Touch was usually referred to by Famous members as the “Side A Band of Winnipeg.” Side A is a famous band in the Philippines. Even Archie Castillo, Ariel Rivera’s musical director, compared the band to Side A, South Border and Freestyle.

The leader of the band

Jojo Yso commented that Frank Urbano is a versatile musician. He is a competent bassist and also knows how to play the piano. Before joining After Touch, Frank was a member of an Italian band that was famous in the community. Even when Frank was still in the Philippines, he was already a well-known musician. Jon Natoc described Frank as really a great musician who also plays the Trombone. Frank belonged to a family of musicians. His father is known in the community as a superb musician, according to an equally good senior musician drummer Joe Ynot. Frank’s older brother Tito Urbano, as stated by Jon Jon, was a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music and is a contemporary of Ryan Cayabyab, a legendary musician in the Philippines. Jojo even shared that Elizabeth Ramsey, a famous comedian and singer, even tried to recruit Frank to be a member of her band.

There are more interesting information about this premiere band of the 90s, which will be featured in the next issue.

(I would like to thank Jojo Yso and Jon Jon Natoc who supplied important information including the years when Philippine artists visited and performed in Winnipeg.)

(Levy Abad is a freelance writer and also a singer songwriter/recording artist and a member of Migrante Canada-Mb chapter and also a founding member/ program coordinator of Winnipeg Multicultural Human Rights Forum, Levy has released four albums , Canadian Experience Vol. 1 (iTunes ), Never Give Up and Rhythms of Compassion CanEx 3. and "Tara ng Maglakbay"( June2017). You can reach Levy Abad through , lev67.abad@yahoo.ca or on Facebook.).

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Jhayzon Paredes: Rocker Entrepreneur
Filipino Journal, April 5-20 ,2017
Anong Masasabi mo? Vol.31,Number 07
Levy Abad

Many of those who are familiar with the rock and roll scene of Winnipeg's Filipino community most likely know Jason "Jhayzon" Paredes as a rakista and founder of three bands in the 90s, namely: Palitaw (1994-2004), FOURSIGHT (2004-2011) and Fhamathou (2012-2016). Also a founding member of Filipino Association of Musicians and Other Unknown Artists (FAMOUS), Paredes conceptualized the website of Pinoy Musikeros of Winnipeg - an artists' webpage where musicians can show their prowess and initiated 204 Live Music" on Facebook as a venue for artists in the community to post their live performances.

Recently, Paredes launched a music video of his song "Iisa Lamang". He will be releasing also his EP titled Nasaan Ka Man, (Wherever you are) featuring songs like "Asahan," "Bakit Pa?," "Nasaan Ka Man," "Droga," "Iisa lamang," 'Di Nakakatuwa," "Pagbabago" and "Sinayang." These materials can be found online at www.jaizendesign.com.

Jason the Entrepreneur. There is more to Jason Paredes that some people do not know about. Not only a rakista singer-song writer, he is also an entrepreneur. Paredes is one of the partners (the other one being James Haryett) and founders of JJ Cabinet Warehouse (406 Pacific Avenue corner Ellen Street). According to Paredes,JJ Cabinet Warehouse started in 2011. On the first floor is their show room where quality cabinets are on display. In the basement, Paredes set-up his music studio where his musician friends hang out, unwind and jam. Despite the success of their business, both Paredes and Haryett are both down to earth. They prefer donning casual attire, nothing fancy or forced executive wannabe get-ups. Whenever I go there, Jason does not fail to say hi; none of those "deadma mode" assumed by the “hard to get”- snobbish type corporate bosses. Paredes and I would usually talk about writing songs, plans of producing an album, or organizing a concert to make the community happy.

JJ Cabinet Warehouse Touring the warehouse, I asked Paredes what led him to this business. He explained that he worked for the owner of the business for more than ten years as a web designer. Along the way, he learned the different aspects of the trade until the owner, Morton Sparber, decided to gradually turn-over the running of the business to Haryett . Eventually, Paredes and Haryett, who, by the way, also plays guitar and likes siopao (steamed pork or beef bun), took over the business and repackaged it as JJ Cabinet Warehouse. Paredes said, business is doing good. “We are getting good deals lately and producing, selling, and installing a lot of products.” One time, Paredes took me with him to deliver cabinets and over lunch, we discussed Rock and Roll and business.

Browsing through JJ Cabinet Warehouse’s web page, I found an article that best describes JJ Cabinet Warehouse products. JJ Cabinets Promotional material states that, “For many, the kitchen can still be the hub of the family. And it can be beautiful when the cabinets are attractive and functional.” As a homeowner myself, I can imagine having JJ Cabinet's quality products in my kitchen.

Quality is of paramount importance in their business. Their construction features include first and foremost, three-quarter-inch plywood boxes, solid wood doors and drawers, which are also full extension and dovetail construction. Second, interior and exterior of entire cabinet and drawers are stained with the same colour as the cabinet doors. Then comes the choice of the three popular traditional colours; maple, cherry, cappuccino (with more colour options available).

Knowing Jason as a Rakista in the community, I am really amazed by Jason’s profile as a business owner and partner. Furthermore, Haryett explained, “We priced one of our kitchens at about $2,900 and the same kitchen with the same specs from a larger home retailer was $12,000. You may get a kitchen from somewhere for close to the same price as ours, but you would be sacrificing a lot of extras and quality”.

"I really can't complain about life"' I asked Rocker-cum- entrepreneur Paredes where he gets his energy and what keeps him going. He said, “I really can’t complain about life even if I had experienced some hard times; for example, I was very young when I lost my sibling and my father. Nowadays, if I have success in my chosen path in life, then I am happy to share that with my family and friends in the community.” He added, “In life, one has to be patient and persistent and just go on because everything that you sow in life will grow and bear fruit one day.”

(Levy Abad is a freelance writer and also a singer songwriter/recording artist and a member of Migrante Canada-Mb chapter and also a founding member/ program coordinator of Winnipeg Multicultural Human Rights Forum, Levy has released three albums , Canadian Experience Vol. 1 (iTunes), Never Give Up and Rhythms of Compassion CanEx 3. Levy is soon to release a his fourth album by fall titled "I Love Canada". You can reach Levy Abad through , lev67.abad@yahoo.ca or on Facebook.).