Kapisanan Philippine Centre launch

Kapisanan Philippine Centre launch

Kapisanan Philippine Centre is launching a brand new 3500 sq. ft. facility in the heart of downtown Toronto’s Kensington Market dedicated to Filipino-Canadian arts and culture on November 27th 2005.
Kapisanan is inviting all members to attend the annual general meeting (AGM) at 4 pm.

Kapisanan Philippine Centre Launch Day Programme:

1:00 pm – Opening and art exhibit of Filipino-Canadian artists (Curated by Christine Mangosing)

2:30 pm – Jeepney Stories (Presented by Carlos Bulosan Theatre)

4:00 pm – AGM

5:00 pm – Guest speaker – Mayor David Miller (TBC)

6-7 pm – Refreshments

7:00 pm – Screening of Rolling Longaniza and St. Jamestown (Presented by The Digital Sweatshop Inc.)

9–10pm – Live music

Some people may have known Kapisanan Philippine Centre (KPC) since its inception in the late 1980s. Its previous (and longer name) is San Lorenzo Ruiz Filipino-Canadian Community Centre.

Last year, the board of directors decided to bring in some young blood: seven new board members who are first generation Filipino-Canadians, along with two organizational partners. The latter consists of vibrant young professional art and media organizations: Carlos Bulosan Theatre (CBT) and The Digital Sweatshop Inc., a Toronto-based film and television production company founded by Filipino-Canadians. “We wanted our younger generation to provide the focus and impetus for Kapisanan,” said Rene Santiago, current president of the Centre.

New blood was just what KPC needed to move forward with plans of finding its first space. Within the year, the trio of organizations found a space in the Kensington Market community, an ideal hub for outreach and cultural exposure to a broader public. This new centre will ultimately create a space for cultural and artistic activities as well as community services for our young and older generation, for new immigrants and Canada-born Filipino-Canadians.

Programs and activities will include spoken word presentations, intimate theatre performances, curated art exhibitions, as well as rental of rehearsal space for local theatre and dance companies.
Contact info: Caroline Mangosing, 416.530.7881, 416.708.2796 (mobile). caroline@ thedigitalsweatshop.com