For immediate release
July 28, 2012

Toronto, ON—This year’s “Roots Rhymes and Resistance: Laying Tracks Against Cutbacks” cultural fundraising show will mark the final and most important phase of putting education into practice as this summer’s critical and popular education series “Balik Ugat Balik Komunidad (Back to the Roots, Back to the Community) (BUBK)” reaches its end. The stage is finally set for this year’s Roots, Rhymes and Resistance (RRR) to continue and heighten the community’s progressive culture. Titled “Laying Tracks against Cutbacks,” this year’s RRR will showcase the Filipino Canadian community’s dynamism through performances while tackling the struggles we face under the neoliberal agenda of globalization. Organized by UKPC/FCYA-ON
(Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance—Ontario), RRR will be an exciting evening infused with assertions and expressions of resistance. The concert will be held on July 28th at the University of Toronto’s Hart House in the Music Room from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM.

This 15th annual concert will include a lineup of young artists experienced in musical fields, as well as youth ready to embrace and express their emerging artistic abilities. As the concert marks the end of this year’s BUBK, several performances will interweave the experiences of the Filipino Canadian community as a form of cultural resistance. Amidst worsening conditions under neoliberal policies and practices, Filipino Canadian youth, along with women and workers will remain steadfast in “nurturing the spirit of resistance that gives us hope,” as local Filipino Canadian hip hop artist and SIKLAB member Dagamuffin so eloquently puts in his transnationally-focused, sometimes song, sometimes spoken-word piece “My Folks.” As part of the night’s line up, his performance will no doubt be one highlight in this Saturday’s concert fundraiser.

“I’m really excited for RRR. It’s a chance for us to collectively expand our capacity to express our community’s experiences in dynamic ways and specifically through arts,” says Lydia Vamvouras, a PWC-ON member.

The concert fundraiser also signals the approach of next month’s workers’ conference titled “Workers Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization” that will serve to deepen our understanding of workers’ conditions under the current global economic and environmental crisis. It will bring forth the analyses needed to take the next steps towards the direction of genuine social change. All funds raised in RRR will be going towards this conference.

“Roots, Rhymes and Resistance: Laying Tracks against Cutbacks”
Saturday, July 28 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Doors open at 6:30 PM
Music Room, 7 Hart House Circle
U of T Downtown Campus
Tickets $10.00 each
(Funds will go towards the conference “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization”)

WATCH THE PROMO VID: http://youtu.be/FsEp5jpFxMg

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For more information, contact:
Charie Siddayao
(416) 519-2553
ukpc-on@magkaisacentre.org
www.magkaisacentre.org
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