The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary and the Philippine Cultural Center Foundation (PCCF) will co-host the Calgary leg of the 2018 Canada touring show of the Boston-based Iskwelahang Pilipino (IP) Rondalla.

Called “Reveries and Rhythms,” the free show will be held on 1 August, 6- 8 pm, at the Marlborough Park Community Centre located at 6021 Madigan Drive, NE, Calgary.

IP Rondalla will perform a combination of traditional Philippine folk songs and folkdance music, Philippine contemporary music, original Filipino- American compositions, and American contemporary music - all performed on bandurias and octavinas (mandolins), guitars and a double bass, with supplemental percussion to accentuate the rhythmic theme of the show.

One of the show’s highlights on 1 August will be a joint performance of IP Rondalla and PCCF Sinag Kultura Performing Arts Group.

The Iskwelahang Pilipino was born in 1976 when a group of Filipino parents in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, came together to provide an environment for their children to learn about their Filipino heritage. The IP’s mission is to strengthen Filipino American children, families and community by celebrating the rich Philippine cultural heritage in a structured and nurturing environment. A decade later, IP’s Executive Director at the time, Cristina Castro, a UP alumna, developed a rondalla instructional program, in which musicians

 

within IP - mostly the cultural school’s students, joined by a handful of parents - began to learn how to play rondalla instruments imported from the Philippines under the initial instruction of classical guitarist Michael Dadap of New York. They eventually formed the Iskwelahang Pilipino Rondalla.

The IP Rondalla has performed to a wide array of audiences across the U.S., Europe and the Philippines as well as for several Philippine presidents.

The 2018 IP Rondalla Canadian tour of Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Winnipeg will be different from past IP performance tours because, in addition to the traditional performance schedule, it will connect the Filipino-American youth of IP with Filipino- Canadian youth while serving the local community.

In co-hosting the “Reveries and Rhythms,” Consul General Gilberto Asuque said, “This is a rare opportunity to showcase not only the rich musical heritage of the Philippines, but also to build a bridge between Filipino-Canadian and Filipino-American youth through the power of music. There is so much potential within the Filipino youth in North America that we should be able to cultivate, harness and develop to elevate the stature of the Philippines and the Filipinos.”

Following its performance on 1 August, the IP

Rondalla will collaborate with PCCF in conducting a joint music

workshop on 3 August at the PCCF office at 4656 Westwinds Dr NE Unit 206, Calgary.

Afterwards, IP Rondalla will head to Edmonton where it will conduct another workshop with the Filipino Canadian Saranay Association’s Rondalla. The two will also play the overture of “Emma, the Musical,” an original work by Chie Floresca and Erica Cawagas, which debuted in Edmonton on July 7, 2018. To cap its stay in Alberta, the IP Rondalla and Filipino Canadian Saranay Association’s Rondalla will have a joint performance at the Philippine Pavilion during the Edmonton Heritage Festival at Hawrelak Park on 6 August.