BoniFest 2023 features Bonifacio Ilagan, ‘Suyuan, Himagsikan,’ People’s Chorale

BoniFest 2023 features Bonifacio Ilagan, ‘Suyuan, Himagsikan,’ People’s Chorale

By Mila Astorga-Garcia

The Philippine Reporter

BoniFest 2023 was held November 30, in commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the birth of Andres Bonifacio, the Father of the Philippine Revolution, and the first president of the Philippines.

The event, a two-hour Zoom presentation, organized by theToronto-based Filipino-Canadian Writers and Journalists Network (FC-WJNet), was viewed  in Canada, U.S., the Philippines, Australia, and other parts of the world,

Featured speaker was Bonifacio P. Ilagan, renowned multi-awarded cultural icon in the alternative and traditional mass media, including television, vide, film and Philippine theatre.   

During the Philippine centennial celebration, Ilagan was among the chosen 100 awarded “the most outstanding artists and cultural advocates in the last 100 years for their contribution to the development of the nation through cultural work and the arts” by the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP) Centennial Honors for the Arts.

Highlight of BoniFest 2023 was Ilagan’s well researched and insightful presentation on the historical role of culture and the arts in the Filipino people’s continuing struggle for independence.

The program, directed by FC-WJNet’s Lui Queano,  featured a short film written and directed by Ilagan (Suyuan, Himagsikan), performances by People’s Chorale and a recitation of Bonifacio’s iconic poem, Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa.

It took only seven days to put together BoniFest 2023, but still it got positive feedback from appreciative viewers like Dr. Roland Simbulan from Manila (“ang galing”), Bobby Ticzon (”fantastic, fantastic”), and Dr. Ethel Tungohan fromToronto (“FABULOUS event…great turnout and very engaged audience”)

Thanks to guest speaker Ilagan for his substantive and compelling presentation,  director and scriptwriter Queano for his creative production, the amazing cultural groups that shared their video performances, volunteers Mikael Jagan and Deandra for their zoom technical expertise, and FCWJNet’s loyal individual and organizational friends for extending  support in varied ways.

BoniFest 2023 was co-sponsored by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto. Malaya Canada, Migrante Canada, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, National Union of Journalists in the Philippines-North America, Global Transparency Transformation Advocates, Kabayan Canada Angat Buhay, Bicol Canada Community Association, and Radyo Migrante.

To watch, search “BONIFEST 2023” on YouTube

Read: The continuing struggle for Philippine Independence By Boni Ilagan