FMAACI Folk Fest 2026 Entertainment and conscientization

by Levy Abad

August 15th marked a significant turning point for the Filipino Music and Arts Association of Canada Inc. (FMAACI) with the Filipino Canadian Folk Music Fest 2026 held at the West End Cultural Centre.

With the theme The Rhythm of our Roots, The Voice of Our Future, it was a well-attended event with performers delivering two sets of entertainment and conscientization. Entertaining because most of the songs are classic Filipino folk songs (alternative and socially critical) of famous artists and songwriters like Asin, Gary Granada, Rom Dongeto and Noel Cabangon of Buklod, Coritha, Florante, Freddie Aguilar, Joey Ayala, Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay and Danny Fabella of Musikang Bayan. It was also conscientizing for it tackled the social realities prevalent in the old country like bureaucratic corruption, environmental destruction, poverty, exploitation, and colonialism, to mention a few.

The evening opened with an Indigenous drum tribute by Melvin Starr, followed by FMAACI President Ernesto Ofiaza Jr. singing an original musical Treaty 1 Land Acknowledgment. In a display of bayanihan (communal unity), performers and organizers gathered on stage to present White with a custom painting by Jogin Tamayo to honour the partnership.

The first artists to perform were Yzza Reyes Lijauco and Marlyn Martinez (on piano), who rendered Bayan Ko, a classic Filipino resistance song during the 70s. Yzza also covered Coritha’s Sierra Madre, a nostalgic song about the longest mountain range in the Philippines that provides or serves as a shield against typhoons and a refuge for revolutionaries in the struggle against empires.

Second to perform were Jack and Glen Unlayao and Tion Atilano of the group Jack Stones singing Karaniwang Tao by Joey Ayala. This song poses the question: “Where will we hide when Mother Nature strikes back?” This was followed by Gary Granada’s Bahay, a song that poetically depicts the dire condition of people living in the slums. Julius Cesar Eugenio followed, performing a song by Joey Ayala titled Magkabilaan, describing the contradictions in society that need to be confronted and resolved.

For my part, I performed a classic Musikang Bayan song titled Aking Pangarap, written by Danny Fabella, that tells about the causes of migration and a call for a society that upholds compassion and justice for the working masses that create wealth. I was fortunate to perform another song, Bangon Na, a song that I wrote in the 90s. It is a song calling for action to combat environmental degradation before it’s too late.

Double D, composed of the duo Daniel Tabo-oy and Dario Malabuyoc Javier, performed classic Asin songs like Balita, a song that tells about the root causes of war in the southern part of the Philippines and the longing for peace. Jun Llanos performed two songs, one from Heber Bartolome titled Karaniwang Tao, describing the struggles of an ordinary person in an oppressive society. Another song was from the group Buklod titled Tatsulok, explaining that as long as society is divided into social classes, a few rich and the majority poor, the strife will go on until justice reigns.

The performances of the following artists were well received by the audience. The messages of the songs lifted spirits to remember and care for the motherland. They also highlighted the City of Winnipeg as the home of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Manitoba as a province that promotes multiculturalism and the spirit of the 1919 General Strike of workers fighting for better working conditions not only in this province but throughout Canada and beyond. All these significant Fil-Canadian Folk Festival events happened under the leadership of Ernesto Ofiaza, president of FMAACI and the whole FMAACI board (Levy Abad-VP, Jeanette Perez-Secretary, Leonardo Isla-Treasurer, Elmer Aquino-Auditor, and board members Daniel Tabo-oy, Jogin Tamayo, Jet Tabuena, Alen Basco, and Susan Dimayuga) who tirelessly prepared for such an endeavour to come to pass.

Not to forget those who worked behind-the-scenes: Alen Basco and Joan Ballester, who made sure the event went smoothly; Jeanette Perez and Susan Dimayuga, who were in charge of hospitality; Vicky Basco and Rowena Fernandez, who oversaw ticketing; and last but not least, April Carandang and John Lopez, who did photography.

Special thanks to all our sponsors, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Cambrian Credit Union, Malaya Marcelino (MLA for Notre Dame), Fi-Nest Mortgage, Safety Solutions (owner: Iqbal Brar), Ann Evangelista (Ward 9 School Board Trustee), Paul Ong, Primerica (Maria Salceda, Primerica Regional VP), Casares Law Office, Joseph Dancel (Barrister and Solicitor), Mintu Sandhu, (MLA for the Maples), Jen ValeraRealtor, Prime Home Health, Kalesa Corner, and Cindy Lamoureux (MLA for Tyndall Park).

See you all next year at the 2027 Filipino Canadian Folk Festival!