Toronto ON –

With just 15 days away, Filipino Canadian youth are tuning their guitars, pushing pens, polishing their dance moves, and raising their fists high as excitement builds for an upcoming cultural event called “Roots, Rhymes and Resistance (RRR): Panahon Natin, Our Moment! Step up, Stand Out!” on July 16, 2010 at the Arbor Room at the University of Toronto. Originally featured in Vancouver, RRR will take centre stage for the second time in Toronto to showcase the culture of resistance rooted within every Filipino youth residing in Canada.

“RRR is one way to express our people’s long tradition of resiliency and our desire to collectively define our own community’s future here in Canada,” states Mervyn Mabini, one of the event’s organizers. Hosted by the Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance – Ontario (UKPC/FCYA – ON), this event aims to be the space for Filipinos to hear, take part, and put forward the stories of our struggle through the form of music, spoken word, dance, live art, theatre, and multimedia performances. “After the success of the first RRR, we felt the eagerness of more Filipino Canadian youth to be involved in activities like these. It just proves that more youth is taking up the call advance the struggles of Filipinos as a transnational community living in Canada.”

Similar to the RRR held in December 2009, this year’s aims to raise funds in order to support and strengthen the community-based program that UKPC/FCYA has been enthusiastically engaged in for more than 15 years: to make Filipinos count in Canada’s future. As a growing youth organization, every cent that will be collected on this event will be used to sustain the material and financial expenses to build a strong and united Filipino Canadian community that reflects the vision of a just and free society. RRR is an event by the youth, for the youth. “This cultural event is going to be the our opportunity to raise awareness of the genuine settlement and integration that every Filipino Canadian demands and deserves.” Mabini adds.

In this night of cultural resistance, event goers are expected to witness the defiance of the young people on the issue of our community’s intensifying social exclusion and marginalization. With the support of the workers and women in the community through SIKLAB (a workers’ organization) and the Philippine Women Centre, the stage is now set for the youth as they affirm that their voices are now in tune to make the community hear that this is the time. July the 16th is the moment Filipino Canadians step up and stand out!

National Roots, Rhymes and Resistance
“Panahon Natin, Our Moment: Step Up, Stand Out!”
Friday, July 16 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Doors open at 6:00 PM, show starts at 7:00 PM
Arbor Room, 7 Hart House Circle
at the University of Toronto
$10 Cover

For tickets and information:
Contact Alleben Purugganan or Aila Comilang
416-519-2335
ukpc-on@magkaisacentre.org
www.magkaisacentre.org