Press Release

Toronto, ON – Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance-ON (UKPC/FCYA-ON) will be hosting its very first “Pinoy Poetiks” on August 7, 2008, 7:30 p.m. at Hart House, Arbor Room, University of Toronto (7 Hart House Circle, Toronto). This night will showcase the rich talent of young Filipinos and express the diversity of their voices through spoken word, poetry, song and dance.

With the theme “Balik Ugat, Balik Komunidad” (Reclaiming our Roots, Back to the Community), Pinoy Poetiks tackles the country’s most pressing issues, both in Canada and in the Philippines. Filipino identity, human rights, systemic racism, women’s issues, and a history of activism are only some of the topics that will be expressed through various artistic mediums.

“Culture is an effective tool for community empowerment, and the Filipino youth is really waking up to this fact,” says Noel Matta, a rapper and member of UKPC originating from Scarborough, who is also known by his stage name FenaxiZ. The UKPC Kultural Collective aims to express the struggles the different sectors the Filipino community face today. Not only does Pinoy Poetiks offer a space for the exploration of these issues, it also highlights the role of arts and culture in community’s empowerment.

This event also marks the beginning of the workshop series called “Balik Ugat, Balik Komunidad” coordinated by UKPC-ON with the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario and SIKLAB (Advance and Uphold the Rights of Overseas Filipino Workers). Kelly Botengan, a member of SIKLAB-ON stated that the workshop series will, “serve to educate through a collective study our people’s struggles here and in the Philippines, and to build our capacity to further advance the rights and welfare of our community in Canada.” Proceeds of Pinoy Poetiks will go towards the “Balik Ugat, Balik Komunidad” workshops and the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) and Heritage and Multicultural Canada nationwide research conference entitled “Filipino Community and Beyond: Towards full participation in a multicultural and multi-ethnic Canada” which will be held on November 6-9 at the University of Toronto.

UKPC/FCYA-ON is the result of dynamism of Filipino youth and our desire to build a strong and united Filipino community that reflects the vision of a genuinely just and free society where marginalized people are no longer exploited and oppressed.

For more information, contact Ian Nillas at 416-519-2553 or email ukpc-on@magkaisacentre.org
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