Philippine Independence Crawl
Celebrating 124 years of Decolonization
Sunday, 6/26/22 from 12p -6p
Free All Ages
Across 4 Spaces in
The Filipino Cultural District
Sponsored by Union Bank, Kultivate Labs along with it’s community partners in SOMA Pilipinas (The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center, KalayaanSF, The Hinabi Project, and 5M) are welcoming you to Filipino Cultural District to eat, connect, learn, and get down to celebrate 124 years of decolonization. Enjoy a wide range of activities in 4 different venues along Mission St between 6th and 4th St.
Locations
Balay Kreative Studios
863 Mission St.
San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center
814 Mission St.
Kapwa Gardens
967 Mission St.
5M Park
44 Mary St.
Explore The Various Venues & Activations
Kapwa Gardens
Sari Sari Market
Sari Sari Market, is a Small Business Market spotlighting local Filipinx-owned retail and food vendors. All vendors have been curated to feature some of the best Kapwa Gardens vendors of all time!
SARI SARI MARKET VENDOR LINE-UP
RETAIL
FOOD
ENTERTAINMENT
Jonathan Cruz aka DJ SHORTKUT is driven by passion for every genre of music. Shortkut began his career in San Francisco, California in 1987 as a mobile sound-system, progressing on to competing in World DJ Championships since 1994. He has established himself as a professional DJ & global jet setter showcasing his trend setting performances. His diverse selection in music, combined with his turntablist roots and a dedicated work ethic, Shortkut establishes himself as one of the most sought after talents in the entertainment & music industry.
FOLLOW DJ SHORTKUT @shortkut
DJ ET IV is the co-founder and co-curator of ASTIG. ASTIG is a monthly party that celebrates and pays tribute to different eras and genres of OPM (Original Pilipinx Music). ET plans to expand ASTIG into an independent record label and lifestyle brand. His inspiration behind ASTIG was to share music that had inspired him from his time living in the Philippines, as well as to help build bridges across the diaspora and beyond.
FOLLOW EJ ET IV @et_iv
Pangalay Circle
Pangalay Circle centers around workshops and in-person dance circles to connect community members with seasoned practitioners who specialize in Pangalay dances. These local practitioners would serve as the bridge between students and Indigenous culture bearers- channeling movement and lessons through workshops as well as facilitating dialogue through online platforms.
Many Styles: Mata Sa Bagyo
Taught By Grandmaster Carlito Bonjoc
Filipino Martial Arts is making a comeback at Kapwa Gardens. We are excited to present a Filipino martial arts class series every Sunaay. Get the chance to learn the basics of Filipino martial arts in an inclusive and safe space. Whether your goals are to exercise, learn a new skill, or be part of a community, we'll hold space for you.
5M Park
KalayaanSF Picnic
Designed for the whole family, enjoy traditional Filipino cultural entertainment featuring cultural dances, bands, singers, and DJ’s. Filipino food trucks will ring the park and guests are encouraged to enjoy their food picnic style.
KALAYAAN PICNIC PERFORMER LINE-UP
Mika Gorospe is a Filipino singer and actress who was born and raised in the Bay Area. She was one of the finalists of the debut season of “The Clash”, an original singing competition that was televised on GMA Network. After “The Clash” concluded, she was signed to GMA Artist Center. Her first single “Mahal Paalam Na” was released in 2020 under GMA music. In addition to her singing career, Mika is a Pre-Med student studying Biology and wants to become a dermatologist in the future.
FOLLOW MIKA @mikagorospe
Rachel Bergado is a Bay Area based singer and songwriter.
Although based in Northern California, she is most notably known for being part of Season One of the reality talent competition on GMA 7 known as “The Clash”.
Among the many other achievements Rachel has attained, other outstanding accomplishments include appearing on Food Commercials for TFC, as well as being selected as a grand finalist to represent the city of San Francisco in the national competition “Kollaboration Star.” Rachel is currently studying to become a healthcare worker.
FOLLOW RACHEL @liljordanmusic
American Line Dancing by LDVALI was born in 2006 in Napa California in early 2011 LGVALI was launched to introduce a unique way of enjoying parties with good sound quality. In the summer of 2014, the pilot program for seniors and adults with limited mobility- with or without early dementia was introduced. American Line Dancing goes Pinoy was born in 2016 so LDVALI can promote Pinoy artists and or Pinoy songs (old & new) via original or applied choreography. American Line Dancing goes Pinoy for Philippine Independence Crawl!
Bheng Topacio is an entrepreneur, a film/show producer, a singer/performer and currently working as a Sr. IT Coordinator! Very energetic and loves the entertainment world!
Born in Los Angeles, California, on May 26, 1998, Maddie B and her family moved to San Francisco when she was two years old. At age four, she started singing in front of family and friends at social events. She was in love with the idea of becoming the best singer. At 9 years old, she performed the song Breathe by Faith Hill at a Wedding Reception. This was her first time singing with a live band. She was asked to entertain at another Wedding Reception, this time she sang and performed with a band singing You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift.
A gifted young singer and dancer, Maddie recognized the importance of enhancing her singing and stage skills. This year She landed the female lead role of Vanessa in "IN AND OUT OF SHADOWS", a California traveling musical by famed Chicano writer Gary Soto, is about the lives and experiences of a group of undocumented teenagers from Richmond and Pinole, California. Maddie also had the honor and privilege to sing the National Anthem for the Oakland A’s, Oakland Raiders and also for World Champs Golden State Warriors!
For the past few years she has put together “TEAM MADDIE B” to raise awareness and raise money to help Fight Cancer at the “Relay For Life” events. Her influences stem from Christina Aguilera to Whitney Houston and Carrie Underwood to Taylor Swift.With her saying “Keep Wishing In What You Believe In…” – Maddie has her sights to be the next Rising Star!
Anthony Regala is a singer/songwriter born and raised in SF. Growing up doing choir, dancing, theater and taking voice lessons has really helped turn him into the artist he is today. He hopes and aims that through music that he will inspire not only other Fil-Ams but other people who connect with his music to use that gift of music and creativity they’ve been given as well. Basically with God, anything is possible is the message he wants to come across.
Taraine Iana Jimenez is a Filipino musician, singer, and songwriter from Pittsburg, CA. She started singing at the age of 2 and has been performing at local events, sporting events, musical theater, and opening acts in Filipino concerts ever since. She is currently attending college as a soon-to-be Nursing student. When she is not performing, she enjoys traveling and spending time with loved ones!
FOLLOW TARAINE @itstaraine
Lil Jordan is a music artist, actor, and tv host. He received his SAG card at 5 years old. He was featured on Good Morning America, Golf Channel, ESPN, Nickelodeon, CNN, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, The Filipino Channel, Univision, and front cover of Asian Week and book Lil' Jordan's 9 Holes of Fear. He hosted his own Celebrity Golf Tournament and received a Commendation from Los Angeles County.
FOLLOW JORDAN @liljordanmusic
"How’s your heart? Whether broken, mending, or full beyond measure, 23-year-old singer-songwriter Jolo grasps your heartstrings with a familiar, yet unique combination of folk and jazz stylings and rich lyricism. Immigrating to the Bay Area from the Philippines in 2016, this singer-songwriter brings the soul of OPM along to every performance.
Dulce Dizon is a Silicon Valley high tech and biotech professional and Co-Host of Girls Talk Show on Youtube.
Reigne Reario is a 17-year-old, young recording artist from the Bay Area, who at the same time is a native of our beloved Country, The Philippines. She is also a singer-composer and had composed one of the songs in her first self-named Album “Reigne” entitled Be Bold. The album also consists of 3 other songs composed by one of the legendary composers in the Philippines, Mr. Vehnee Saturno. She launched her album at the Trianon Theater in San Jose in 2019. The proceeds of the concert were donated to the Bantay Bata (Child Watch) in the Philippines, an organization that helps alleviate the life of abused and underprivileged kids. Giving back to her native land is something her grandparents have instilled in her young mind. At a young age, she is not only a dreamer for her own self but a role model for other young generations in her school, when she was elected as President of the Student Council at The King’s Academy and graduated with honors in the year 2022. She strongly believes that her love for music has helped her achieve dreams she had never imagined she can achieve. Soon as she moves forward to her journey of the “University Life” in the fall of this year, Music will continue to be her best buddy that will carry her through fulfilling her dream of becoming a singing Doctor. ”
DJ Nitro is a professional Voice Over Announcer, former Radio DJ, and Program Director early in his career. He worked with major Radio & Television networks back in the Philippines. He was also a recipient of a Reuters Grant in London for TV News Productions.
Today, he works with respected media agencies serving the Filipino American communities across California. He voiced TV, Radio, and Social Media commercials and Public Service Announcements for the Filipino audience notably the COVID 19 campaigns to fight
against misinformation and disinformation.
He is also the founder of www.filamstreamradio.com, an online radio station for the Filipino Americans - that plays today’s hottest hits, throwbacks and OPM favorites 24/7. He wants to collaborate closely with the Filipino American local music artists and make FilAm Stream Radio, as one of their preferred platforms.
Zeyoncé Brown is a 20 Yrs old, Black and Filipino from MILPITAS, CA. She started singing at the age of 6. She’s been performing at the local community, sporting events, Colleges and Universities, Filipino Events, and Fiestas. Out-of-state performances. Zeyoncé signed a Recording Contract with Viva Recording and Entertainment Agency. She recorded in the Philippines “ Labo Mo” and “ No Way” both are Original Pilipino Music
FOLLOW ZEYONCÉ @ZeyonceBrown
Kariktan Dance Company of Concord, California was founded in 2004 to promote the Filipino Culture thru dance and songs. Performers range in age from 12-40 and come from all over the Bay Area. They have performed all over the San Francisco Bay Area as well as other parts of California at various events like KalayaanSF, the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Vallejo’s Pista sa Nayon, Pistahan Parade and Festival, SF Giants and Golden State Warriors Filipino Heritage Night as well as numerous private engagements and corporate functions. Kariktan holds weekly practice sessions at the Dance Connection Studios in Concord and is always looking for new members to help spread the beauty of our culture.
FOLLOW KARIKTAN DANCE COMPANY @kariktandance
Princess Ryan is a Dancer & a Filipina-Irish TV personality. She is currently a contact star with ABS-CBN and Star Magic. Princess started modeling at a young age and has appeared in several TV commercials such as Royal Tru-Orange, Greenwich, Palmolive and Globe.
Retro Pop
Sansu Ramsey is the third child of a famous veteran entertainer, Elizabeth Ramsey, the Philippine’s Queen of Rock N’ Roll. The CEO of the RSJ Production who created and produced The Sansu Show, a variety TV show in 2014 aired on GMA Pinoy TV. The Sansu Show was a weekly upbeat television show that featured a variety of informative important worldwide information focused on unsung heroes in the American/Filipino communities in California. Sansu also wrote a book about her mother, Ms. Ramsey’s colorful life experiences. Ms. Ramsey was the first black Filipina that broke the color-barrier in the Philippine industry. She was one of the producers of a podcast Sansu with Poyay & Filam Star newspaper. Currently, pursuing to produce a movie of her mother’s lifelong career. One of the board members of Aeta’s Tribe Foundation to build water tanks to provide clean waters to the most forgotten indigenous people in the Philippines. And now her new adventure is partnering with a youtube podcast with Bheng & Dulce called the “Girl’s Talk.”
Sari Sari Alley
Sari Sari Alley, is a Small Business Market spotlighting local Filipinx-owned retail and food vendors.
Balay Kreative Studios
Republika Pop-up
Republika SF is a Filipino Retail Incubator & Art Gallery slated to open in late 2022.
Curated by Assembly Hall, the Republika pop-up is a collection of Filipino-American brands pushing the envelope of fashion. Each collection is presented with a theme around Filipino-American culture.
REPUBLIKA COLLECTION
Filipinos living in the diaspora are surrounded by western cultural influences. Adapting to their new landscapes, they have found new ways to express their cultural roots. Some find ways to embody Filipino identity in street wear. While others are taking cues from tribal prints / patterns, while others flip traditional weaves and textiles in clever ways.
Laban Art Gallery
In collaboration w/ Bayani Art, the resident artists of Balay Kreative Studios will be displaying new pieces of art around the theme of fighting (laban) for freedom. Bayani Art will also be creating a pop-up shop and art installation based on the illustrations from their books around Filipino heroes / sheroes Andres Bonifacio, Gabriella Silang, and Lapu Lapu.
LABAN ARTIST LINE-UP
Project: Colonial Disruption vs. Filipinx Resilence
Featuring colonial texts, leaves, flowers, and revolutionary collages; ChiChai’s piece illustrates and honors the community’s decolonizing / healing journey from a history of Filipinx resilience and resistance against colonial disruption.
Project: Philippines Declaration of Independence
Her studio space will include two installation art pieces. The walls will be dressed in handwoven paper printed with archived imagery acquired from the National Library of the Philippines . The process of weaving historical documents, photos of ancestral plant medicine and other historical iconography speaks to a complicated history of fighting against colonization. The second part of my installation is an interactive piece encouraging participants to ground themselves in the soil. This will include reimagined Filipino weaponry as garden tools, seeds such as malunggay and amalaya and soil. My hope is for people to take a moment to nurture and care for the land we stand on, and connect to our ancestors through the planting of seeds found in the Philippines.
Project
Echoing the ancestral Maharlika and Babaylan, and influenced by a cyberpunk aesthetic, Ciriaco creates warrior sculpture that looks to the past to fight for our future
Project: Filipinx National Heroes
How have the heroes of our past helped shape the leaders of our future?
Crossed over with the popular TV series, The Brady Bunch, I wanted to honor the national heroes of the Philippines by creating portraits of them.
Growing up, I've had the privilege to learn about these revolutionaries and the magnitude of their impact. Their compassion, courage, and tenacity have transcended beyond their time, inspiring future generations to amplify their voices. I recognize this hero archetype in my own family history and as I'm sure many other Filipino Americans do. I hope we see ourselves reflected in the past as we face the future.
Project: Martial Law
Based on the current events of the 2022 Philippine’s presidential election. President-elect, Bong Bong Marcos is the new president of the Philippines, and his family's controversial history of Martial Law has brought attention and false narratives to the Philippines. Kristian’s art piece will be exploring the issues of martial law and migration through projection mapping and an interactive Instagram filter for this piece.
Project: Mabuhay, Friend!
The site-specific piece performed entirely inside my art installation at the Balay Kreative Studio. This "Pinoy performance art" piece will involve audience participation/engagement and will protest the disproportionate lack of silliness in our Fil Am community and seeks to amplify the subversion of centuries of post-colonial seriousness-ness. The piece will follow the maxim of the great Filipino revolutionary leader Andres Bonifiacio who said: "To be truly Pinoy and to stand up against oppression, one must learn to tickle your friend's kilikili!
Project: Laban to Rest
Coming off of a 3-month sabbatical after experiencing massive burnout as an entrepreneur & nonprofit director trying to make it through Covid, I, Gina Mariko Rosales...
#UltraCapricorn
#RecoveringPerfectionist
#ChronicOverachiever
...I am so grateful to have found REST. We live in a constant state of hustle, and because we are survivors we convince ourselves that we're OK -- no, we even convince ourselves that we thrive in it -- in order to justify the madness that it really is. But we are not our hustles. We are so so much more.
In this experiential, interactive experiment, I invite you to join me for a few minutes, or even a few seconds, of REST. Take your shoes off. Find a comfy space in my little corner office with the ancestors. Put on these headphones. Let the music hold you. When you feel that you've completed your rest journey, sound the gong to exit the space peacefully. Afterwards, I invite you to share about your experience and join me for an after rest beverage (tea & wine).
San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center
Hinabi Project’s Pinã Retrospective Exhibit
Unique to the Philippines, piña is an extraordinary textile woven from the fine fibers of the leaves of the pineapple plant. This light, airy fabric was perfectly suitable to the tropical climate. It enjoyed a golden age during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, particularly on the island of Panay, where it was made into shirts, women’s blouses, shoulder scarves, handkerchiefs, and table linens. Piña became associated with the emergence of a native Filipino identity under Spanish and American colonialism. Embellished with intricate embroidery, piña as a distinctive clothing reflected the status of the rising native middle class who later became prominent in the Philippine struggle for independence.
Contemporary piña nowadays is often blended with other fibers like silk (piña seda) or cotton, making it more versatile and less costly. With its delicate embroidery, Filipino fashion designers have made their reputation on the global runway with piña couture. On exhibit at the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center are The Hinabi Project’s collection of commissioned piña works and contemporary piña garments by Anthony Cruz Legarda.
Keeping Our Community Safe
Kapwa Gardens has undergone numerous design evolutions to adapt to the pandemic and ensure that social distancing can be maintained to create a sense of community in this health and wellness space. Our team has studied other Bay Area events and learned from our own experiences to continue to improve our safety standards for in-person events.
