Filipino Youth Hold Cultural Night to Celebrate National Achievements, 13 years of Educating, Organizing and Mobilizing

Vancouver, BC—On Sunday, November 30, 2008 Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/The Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance – BC (UKPC-BC) will hold its next installment of Pinoy Poetiks, coinciding with Andres Bonifacio Day. It will also mark the 13th anniversary of UKPC since its formation in Vancouver in 1995. It is to take place at the Kalayaan Centre, 451 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC.

With this upcoming night of poetry, song, hip hop and spoken word, the members of UKPC-BC have much to celebrate. They recently sent a delegation to participate in the historic research conference "Filipino Community and Beyond: Towards Full Participation in a Multicultural and Multi-Ethnic Canada," hosted by the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) at the University of Toronto from November 6-9, 2008. The conference showcased community-led research and ways it has been used to educate and empower the Filipino community. Research gathered in the last 3 years of the NAPWC project has been used to engage politicians, policy-makers and academics, informed community discussions, and has even inspired art exhibits, theatre productions and a fashion show. "Part of the NAPWC project is a specific focus on making Filipino youth count in our community's future," says Niki Silva of UKPC-BC. "So there are so many achievements that we are celebrating as Filipino youth in Canada" she adds.

In keeping with a national theme, this next Pinoy Poetiks will feature an audience from both Montreal and Toronto, who will participate via internet and web-cam. "During the conference we were able to connect with the different cities and learn from one another in regards to our different methods of educating, organizing and mobilizing and it's important for us to share with the community the amazing work happening at a national level." Silva adds.

UKPC-BC says that this Pinoy Poetiks will also be an open house for the organization, with a brief history of UKPC, and the Kalayaan Centre—a community space and the home to UKPC-BC and other progressive Filipino organizations. "We decided this time to hold our event at the Kalayaan Centre instead of a café, as a recognition of the roots of our work," states Christian Clamonte, a UKPC member and participant of the NAPWC conference. Drinks and snacks will be for sale, made by members of the community, including Filipino delicacies like cucinta or sticky rice.

Entrance is $5-$10 suggested donation, and all proceeds go towards continuing the work of UKPC-BC and the maintenance of the Kalayaan Centre. For more information please contact Niki or Ayex at 604.215.1103 or email ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net.