Kasaysayan, Naratibo at Musika

Kasaysayan, Naratibo at Musika

OCHIE BAES composed Mutya as a political prisoner in the 1970s.

A Malaya Canada Event

By Lea Luciano
The Philippine Reporter

“Kasaysayan, Naratibo at Musika” (History. Narrative and Music), a two-hour vitual event to conclude the celebration of Filipino Heritage Month, was held on June 30, 2021.

PERFORMATIBO SINGERS and MUSICIANS

Organized by Malaya Canada and hosted by Philipppine Advancement Through Art and Culture, the presentation highlighted the richness of Filipino culture and language through various songs and narratives from the 1896 Philippine Revolution to the present.

Marissa Corpus, spokesperson of Malaya Movement Canada, shared a warm and welcoming message for the first celebration of Filipino Heritage Month.

“Buong pusong ikinigagalak ng Malaya Movement Canada ang handog nitong kulturang pagtatanghal na sumasalamin sa mahalagang kontribusyon ng mga sulatin, naratibo at musika ng himagsikan ng 1896 hanggang sa pangkasalukuyang panahon.”

Leander Mendoza, tenor based in Nova Scotia, sang Lorenzo Ilustre’s Diwa ng Bagumbayan

Representatives and individuals from different Filipino-Canadian movements and organizations shared messages of solidarity and well-wishes by Nini Alvero, Senior Trade Commissioner of the Philippine Consulate Toronto, Sol Pajadura, Chair of Migrante Canada, and Daniela Salcedo, President of Filipino Canadian Student Association.

Paulina Corpuz, president of PATAC, delivered her message: “Ang gabing ito ay isang paalala sa ating lahat sa mga sakripisyo ng mga nauna sa atin at ang kahalagahan ng patuloy na laban upang mapanatili nating buhay ang ating mga pamana at kultura. Ang musika at sining ang tulay upang unti-unting mapukaw ang damdamin ng mga Pilipino.”

The night was filled with cultural performances, and the attendees were serenaded by talented Filipino-Canadian artists including Belinda Corpuz who sang Jocelyn ng Baliwag, Bayan ko performed by Jeremiah Mari Gan Carag, Pamana Vocal Ensemble sang Pilipinas pa din by Felipe De Leon, Halifax-based tenor singer, Leander Mendoza, sang Diwa ng Bagumbayan by Lorenzo Ilustre, and Al Quinn Alquinto and Charity Mae Beatrix singing Awit ng Petiburges by Bong Ramilo.

JEREMIAH CARAG sang Bayan Ko

Contributions of notable heroes during the Philippine Revolution such as the works of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and Jose Rizal were highlighted during the event. Their works were aimed to spark revolution and resistance and to invoke nationalism among the Filipinos during that period.

Rick Esguerra of the Philippine Solidarity Group narrated Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, a poem written by Andres Bonifacio, regarded as the Father of the Philippine Revolution and leader of the revolutionaries in defending the rights to liberty of our people against the Spanish rule.

Other works shared were Kartilya ng Katipunan by Emilio Jacinto, Liham ni Andres Bonifacio kay Gregoria De Jesus, Pahayag ng Agosto 1897 by Emilio Jacinto, Kundiman 1891 and Mi Ultimo Adios by Jose Rizal.

BELINDA CORPUZ sang
Kundiman ng Hinmagsikan

The 1896 Philippine Revolution is one of the most important events in the history of our country as it awakened our national pride for future generations. It paved the way for revolutionary literature during the First Quarter Storm under the Marcos regime.

Mila Astorga-Garcia acknowleded the work and cultural significance of Mutya, an adaptation of a patriotic song composed by Aloysius (Ochie) Baes while he was in prison under the Marcos dictatorship in the late 1970s. It remains one of the most popular protest songs, along with his other composition, May Kalayaan Ba or sometimes known as Huwad na Kalayaan. These compositions emphasize the continuation of the Filipino people’s struggle for independence up to the present.

The celebration of Filipino Heritage Month is an opportunity for Filipinos across Canada to learn about our history, to appreciate our culture, including our resistance to oppression, and a reminder to continue to fight for our rights and freedom, wherever we are, including here in the diaspora.

Al Quinn Alquinto and Charity Mae Beatrix sang Awit ng Petiburges originally composed by Bong Ramilo

Pamana Singers: Clem Cabillan, Olivia Camacho, Oswald Magno and Marietta Poole

Fe Brauner sang Aling Pag-ibig Pa, Andres Bonifacio’s poem set into music

Lucenia Ortiz, UPAA Alberta