K i d K u l i t

My love for the KPC is never-ending. The Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture (located at 167 Augusta Ave in Kensington Market) has really ramped up their programming in the past year or so and it definitely shows. Workshops + events all over the scene, but perhaps the most impressive venture has been the CLUTCH program.

CLUTCH was a pilot program that spanned over 6 months in 2008\09 and it offered a small select group of young filipino women the opportunity to express their cultural and personal identities by creating art through a multitude of mediums. Nothing was off limits and their final products have been truly awe inspiring for me personally. The girls collectively showcased their pieces at their program end exhibition, Open Fire – The Debut. I was lucky enough to catch opening night, but there’s also a nice round up of the event over on KPC’s blog. Great job, ladies. Can’t wait to see round two unfold.

A thought-provoking question just in time for Valentine’s Day. If anything, this video serves to further prove my unwavering love for all things presented in split-screen.

For something a little less “artsy” and a little more “emo” — house music, oh you never let me down! I love the concept + cinematography. The song is not bad either.

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In many ways, the Kapisanan Philippine Centre saved my life. I became involved with this wonderful community of young, intelligent, creative, and awe-inspiring Filipinos nearly a year ago. And within that year, I’ve been able to:
- act in a Fringe Festival play that received best ensemble cast + huge critical acclaim
- perform my own music in front of a vibrant crowd for the annual summer event, Kultura
- work on tons of different productions + edit more video than I could have ever imagined
- collaborate with brilliant minds who always push the boundaries of art & culture
- embrace my roots + make a real effort to learn more about what it means to be Filipino

We had a fantastic year. I have never been so proud of knowing where I come from. And if you know anything about me and my history, you’ll know that’s a pretty big deal. I also feel really blessed to have met the people I have at the KPC. These are some of the greatest people you could ever be lucky enough to meet and I’m grateful and honoured to be able to call them my friends. This retrospective was a pure labour of love <3 and I look forward to another great year with “the K”.