Maleta unpacks our history and unleashes community’s creativity at its new destination

Toronto, Ontario (October 4, 2010) – Overwhelming exuberance upholds within the Filipino Canadian community as the Maleta (Suitcase) finally arrives at its new destination. As part of the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario’s (PWC-ON) celebration of its 10th year anniversary, the Maleta Art Exhibit will portray the resiliency of Filipino Canadian women in advancing its rich story of migration, struggle, and resistance. The community art exhibit will showcase collectively produced installations, murals, painting and photographs in the Beit Zatoun House from October 10 until the end of the month.

Building from the project’s successful launch earlier this year, Maleta situates the struggle for women’s equality and development in the context of the longing demand to redefine the Filipino Canadian culture into a distinct and transformative one. Through the creation of new unique grassroots work of arts created by community members throughout the year, the Filipino Canadian women, workers and youth weave, in unison, their experiences and talents to present the realization that the community is here to plant its roots inside the Canadian mosaic. Originally exhibited in Vancouver, the Maleta’s landing in Toronto marks the first of series of celebrations for the 10th year anniversary of the Philippine Women Centre in Ontario. Since its existence, PWC-ON remains as the only grassroots organization that fearlessly tackles and advances the true struggles and needs of the Filipino Canadian women in Ontario.

“Filipino Canadian women have always been simplified as exported and processed commodities to sustain Canada’s economic deficiencies,” states Qara Clemente, member of PWC-ON. “This is the lived realities of our women who toil day and night, relegated to domestic work and service sectors jobs. We are the modern day slaves,” she continues. As a sector that encompasses the majority of the community, PWC-ON asserts that the women hold the key for the community to achieve full entitlement in Canada.

“For a decade of educating, organizing and mobilizing Filipino Canadian women, we see that the fundamental requirement to leap the community forward into a new transformative destination is the emancipation of women” states Clemente. “The Maleta represents the militancy and strength of the Filipino Canadian women; that we never back down, that we are here to stay, and are here to lead the struggle for the just and genuine settlement and integration for our community,” she adds.

Unlike your typical art exhibit, the works and pieces in the Maleta redefine the objective of art – the expression of a culture that empowers and strengthens the community. “The Maleta spotlights the Filipino Canadian community threading into an empowered identity,” says Bryan Taguba, member of SIKLAB–ON and one of the coordinators of the project. “By drawing our past and painting our present together, we see in our art the colourful future of the Filipino Canadian community. It is a statement that we have arrived to a new narrative and are ready to unpack our suitcases.”

Grand Maleta Exhibit:
In celebration of 10.10.2010: Philippine Women Centre of Ontario’s 10th year anniversary
Beit Zatoun House (612 Markham Street, Bathurst & Bloor)
October 10 – 30, 2010
Opening Gala: Sunday, October 10
Doors open at 4:30PM; program starts at 5:30PM

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For more information, contact:
Qara Clemente or Alleben Purugganan
(416) 519-2553
pwc-on@magkaisacentre.org
www.magkaisacentre.org