The Filipino Music and Arts Association of Canada, Inc (FMAACI) in it’s aim to explore and develop creative approaches in the preservation, promotion and blending of Filipino music to Canada’s multi-cultural environment has held “Folk Night” that featured local artists in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 27, 2021 at the Filipino Seniors Group Event Hall at 49 Euclid Avenue.
The show started at 7:15 in the evening with an opening remarks from Ernesto Ofiaza Jr., FMAACI founding president, who acknowledged the unending support of their avid sponsors, donors, collaborators, as well as the viewers despite the pandemic. He briefed the audience that the 2-hour English and Filipino folk music night has two parts, Gig 1 and Gig 2.
Gig 1 performers were composed of Manny Araullo singing “Musika ang Buhay” (Asin), “Tayo’y mga Pinoy (Heber Bartolome), and “I Have to Say I Love in a Song (Jim Croce); Zaldy Ordonez – “Sa Paskong Darating”, “Probinsiyana”, and “Ama Namin”; Levy abad – “Wondering”, “Old Photographs”, and his original composition “Dito sa Winnipeg”; and Double D , Daniel Tabo-oy Jr. and Dario Javier – “The Boxer”, “The Sound of Silence”, “Teach Your Children”, and did an accompaniment of the song “Puff The Magic Dragon” sung by FMAACI’s treasurer Jun Isla.
Gig 2 talents included: Vina Dimayuga – “Anak”; Al Santos – “Both Sides Now” and “Last Thing on My Mind”; Larry Velasco – “Balita” (Asin), “Dahon” (Asin), “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, and “Danny’s Song”; and Arman Reyes – “Sweet Baby James”, “Handy Man”, and “Sana’y di Matapos ang Pag-ibig”.
A raffle draw ended the event while Ofiaza thanked the following sponsors, to wit: Duque Immigration, Active Courier, Bigworms Autoparts, Reignzel Autorepair, Emily Alfonso of Sunlife Financial, Maileen Pamplona of Panasia Holidays, Aldouz Guzman of Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, Pares Bistro, Lucita’s Restaurant, DKF Fashion, Caring for the Environment Manitoba and Recycle Everywhere, CKJS 92.7 FM Radio, Alex Canlapan Photography, Barangay Canada, Filipino Journal, Pilipino Express, Filipino Seniors Group of Winnipeg and Acoustic Live in Winnipeg (ALIW).
He also introduced his fellow officers with Levy Abad as vice president, Paige Dimayuga – secretary, Jun Isla – treasurer, Ernie Pionela – Auditor, and Jojo Yso, Daniel Tabo-oy Jr., Jet Tabuena, Kris Ontong, Jogin Tamayo and Alma Ganaden as board members; and the FMAACI Juniors ad-hoc board: Hazel Papelleras, Clare Shann Blanco, Maria Tined, Justine Baxa, Ramir Tabing, Nico Bryle Alfafara, and Angelica Placido.
It was on 2014 that FMAACI was founded as a federally registered non-profit organization and had initiated the First Filipino Folk Music Festival on that same year at the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba. (enojr)
Photos credit: Alex Canlapan