(Nov. 19, FSCG Hall)
On November 19, Knights of Rizal Winnipeg Chapter celebrated the accomplishments of the Philippine hero Jose Rizal with various artistic and creative performances participated in by significant community members whom included artist, journalist, and cultural activist Johsa Manzanilla, who talked about Rizal’s being a multifaceted artist and intellectual; artist, writer, and cultural activist Levy Abad, who hosted the event, gave additional insights about Rizal’s activism, and performed a couple of his original Folk-oriented, socially relevant songs; Canadian musician and researcher Christine Mazur, who recited a lyrical poem she wrote inspired by Rizal; historian and educator Jon Malek, who tackled Rizal’s focus on education as a more important aspect of cultural activism than armed revolution; and journalist, author, artist, and cultural activist aLfie vera mella, who recited his original poem titled “Rizal the Multiculturalist,” read excerpts from his newly published book Can You Hear the Sound of a Falling Leaf?, touched on Rizal’s being a contrarian, universalist, and secularist, performed a song with his haLf man haLf eLf bandmate Mazur on violin/vocals and Abad on acoustic guitars. Overall, the event was successful in presenting the iconic Philippine hero in both familiar and radical perspectives.
Photos by Alex Canlapan
