Best of the Filipino in "Culture In Motion"
24 February 2005
BEST OF THE FILIPINO IN “CULTURE IN
MOTION”
The uniqueness of Philippine
culture and traditions was featured in a day-long program called
“Culture in Motion” on 20 February at the Chater Road Pedestrian
Precinct in central Hong Kong.
The Philippine cultural program
was organized by the Home Affairs Bureau in coordination with the
Philippine Consulate General and the Filipino community to foster a sense
of community and inter-communal understanding among Hong Kong’s ethnic
minorities and to promote cultural diversity.
Addressing the Filipino
community, Dr. Patrick Ho, Secretary for Home Affairs, said “Filipinos
have been part of the fabric of our society for over three decades and
their contribution to our economic and social development has been
enormous. Over 10,000 of them are permanent residents who have made Hong
Kong their home. About 120,000 others work in the domestic sector.
Together, they have enriched Hong Kong’s cosmopolitan character…to the
economic benefit of us all.”
Consul General Corazon L.
Belmonte-Jover, who delivered a message on behalf of the Filipino
community, thanked the Home Affairs Bureau for giving the Filipino
community in Hong Kong the opportunity to showcase the best in the
Filipino – through dances, songs, games, culture and traditions. She also
acknowledged the various Filipino organizations for volunteering to
perform and show the beauty and uniqueness of Philippine culture.
“Mga kababayan,
we should all be proud of our heritage,” she said. “That the Philippines
is a beautiful country, and we, Filipinos, are a beautiful people.”
Being
numerically the largest of the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, the Home
Affairs Bureau selected the Filipino community as its first feature group
of what could be a series of cultural shows presenting different ethnic
minority groups.
Cultural diversity will be the
theme of the overall program. The show will feature the following:
-
performances – comprising
original Filipino music, dancing and other traditional cultural
performances;
-
exhibitions – comprising
displays of Philippine traditional and modern artwork, crafts and
photography; and
-
giveaways – souvenirs
promoting racial harmony will be produced for distribution at the event.
Various Filipino organizations
performed Philippine traditional dances like maglalatik/itik-itik,
subli, singkil, sinulog, tinikling, cariñosa, sarungbanggi, and banga.
Others demonstrated how to play the Filipino game of arnis, patintero,
tumbang preso, luksong tinik, sipa, piko, dama and sungka.
An open air art exhibit
featured the best works of Hong Kong-based Filipino artists Arnel Agawin,
Justo Cascante, Joel Ferraris, Noel de Guzman and Isko Segismundo.
Filipino photographer Corazon Amaya-Canete exhibited her works aptly
called “Hong Kong is in the Heart”. The Hong Kong office of the Department
of Tourism participated with booths showcasing the best of Philippine
tourist destinations.
Guest Filipino performers
included popular Hong Kong-based singer Teresa Carpio, the Hong Kong
Musicians’ Union and the Miga Band with singer Tarhata Polo.
The
volunteer organizations are: Albayano Association of Hong Kong, Balikatan
sa Kaunlaran-HK Council, Balikatan sa Vigan, Bayanihan Centre Volunteers,
Bileg Ti Ilocano, Bileg Ti Sta. Maria, Bileg Ti Annak Ti San Ildefonso,
Black Panthers Consolidated Martial Arts International, Caoayan Ilocos Sur
International Association, Caritas-Hong Kong Asian Migrant Workers and the
Filipino Social Services Projects, Chaumont International, Evelyn Dance
Group, Filipino Alliance Group HK Chapter – R&M Ballroom Dance, Filipino
Domestic Helpers General Union-HK, Graduates of HAB Community Organiser
Training Programme, Hong Kong Musicians Union, Hong Kong St. John
Ambulance, Just for Better Life. Kalipi, LBC Dancers, Lito and Passi City
Dance Group, Leyte Achievers Club, Marinduque Migrant Workers Association,
Mindanao Federation, National Organization of Professional Teachers (NOPT-HK
Chapter), Oriental Mindoro HK Society, Overseas Filipino Theatre Group,
Partido Manggagawa, Sto. Domingo Overseas Contract Workers Association-HK,
Teddy Destura Original Ballroom Dance Club, United Sta. Lucia
Organization, and Anti-Human Trafficking Group.
|
