Networking, identity and culture for Second Generation Filipinos in the UK

Wondering when the next London Barrio Fiesta will be held? The Philippine Centre, organisers of the event, announced that it's set for Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July 2009. As usual, it will be held in Lampton Park, Hounslow, TW3 4DN.

Let's hope we don't have a repeat of last year's confusions after Hounslow council temporarily shut it down.

A Phil-UK reader, Pow Belgado, asked me to let you guys know about the re-opening of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. As usual, posting these messages doesn't mean that we endorse any particular viewpoint. Do your own research to keep informed about the issues.

A Call to Filipinos Around the World - Tell the Philippine Congress "No to Nukes"

James Pogson, a London-based British-Filipino photographer, wrote in to publicise his new project. Feel free to drop him a note if you're interested in helping out.

Dear Phil-UK readers, my name is James Pogson, I’m a Brit/Filipino artist Photographer based in London. I received the 2008 Jerwood Photography Award and I’m currently exhibiting work throughout the UK and have been featured in several magazines.

I’m beginning a new photographic portrait project on Filipino Care Givers and Nannies around the UK. The work is a personal project that I hope will promote Filipino culture throughout the UK, especially within the Arts. For this, I need as many participants as possible to make this work, and I’m asking for your help. If you are a Care Giver or Nanny, or know of someone who is, please get in touch. My email address is jamespogson@gmail.com

A market research firm asked us to post this message:

Want to give your views on an issue that affects the Filipino community in the UK?

Want to make £25 in an hour?

Analysys Mason is currently recruiting volunteers to give their views of telecommunications services for the Filipino community in the UK.

Who qualifies?

Any first or second generation Filipino who has lived in the UK for more than 6 months and owns a mobile phone.

When is it?

We will be holding two sessions in central London, the first will be on Thursday 21st May at 7pm. If you can't make that date get in touch and we will arrange a mutually convenient date.

What will happen?

There will be around 10 volunteers at each session, we will discuss (over light refreshments) the various methods used to contact friends and relatives in the Philippines.

Kulay Pinoy, a new production outfit, is launching its first production entitled "Kasayahan!" on the 10th of May 2009. "Kasayahan!" is a concert featuring Filipino and British performers singing Filipino songs and excerpts from west-end and broadway musicals.

Take a look at KulayPinoy's website: www.kulaypinoy.co.uk
Download the flyer

The Kulay Pinoy project started amongst a group of friends who have decided to set up a production company with the aim to showcase our cultural background and artistic talents. The Philippines has long produced world-class performers in the fields of theatre, dance and popular music worldwide. Pilita Corrales and Lea Salonga, amongst others, have become the blueprints to this legacy and many others are to follow.

Erick A. Fabian of CERUMENTRIC wanted to let you all know that he was nominated for Best Dance Act-Solo in the recently concluded Asia Voice Independent Music Awards (AVIMA). He didn't win but was featured in their website at:

http://voize.my/wpv2/music/cerumentric

You an check out his MySpace page and listen to sample music at: http://myspace.com/cerumentric

Erick even gave us an exclusive pre release teaser, but unfortunately we can't stream from this site at the moment. The rest of you will just have to wait until it's released to the general public :)

Yellow Earth, a London based British East Asian touring theatre company, is running a project for young people aged between 8 to 18 years old. See below and drop them a note if you're interested.

A PLAY IN 2 DAYS

Using a story from the East mixed with voice, text, movement and loads of
fun, participants will have a chance to create their very own play in 2
days.

Open to all young people aged 8-18. This is a taster for a brand new youth
Theatre that will be launched by Yellow Earth Theatre and the Central
school of Speech and Drama in Autumn 2009.

WHEN
Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th April from 10am – 4pm

WHERE
Central School of Speech and Drama
Embassy Theatre
Eton Avenue
London NW3 3HY
(Tube: Swiss Cottage-Jubilee Line or Finchley Road - Jubilee/Metropolitan
Line)

COST
£30

Here's another music video from Up Dharma Down.

Passionate For Dance Press release:

Combining a Passion for Dance with a Heart for Saving Lives

Anna Gough, a London based Photographer, is hosting a fund-raiser to benefit the Third World Movement Against the Exploitation of Women, an organisation that serves young girls who are being sexually exploited in Southeast Asia.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 21st at Café Rez in Vauxhall, London. There is a £12 admission fee (£10 online) and the fund-raiser runs from 7.00 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. There will be five different dance styles which will be beautifully demonstrated with a taster-lesson directly afterwards. There will also be some great prizes to be won in a raffle and plenty of food to nibble on.

DG Doce Pares are holding some Filipino martial art events in and around London. For more information, please visit: http://www.dgdocepares.co.uk/

March

15 (Sun) Sport Stickfighting Refereeing and Judging Workshop 4.30-6.30pm
29 (Sun) Doce Pares British Championship and Invitational Championship,
Kent

May

02 (Sat) KOMBATA Limited Armour
02 (Sat) MANNY PACQUIAO vs. RICKY HATTON (evening)

July

03-05 (Fri-Sun) Doce Pares European Championships, London

September

06 (Sun) Doce Pares Summer Camp, Colchester

November

15 (Sun) Doce Pares "Quest for the Best 2" Championships, London

This post is off topic for Phil-UK but still relevant to those of us based in the UK.

Earlier this year, the UK's justice secretary, Jack Straw, unveiled the Coroners and justice bill 2009. It's purpose is apparently to create 'more effective, transparent and responsive justice and coroner services'. However, one part in particular sent civil liberties advocates' alarm bells ringing: Clause 152.

I'm passing on a message from Markus C., from Filipino Students in The UK, about a band called Firefalldown. You can visit the band's website at http://www.firefalldown.com

Hey Fellow Filipinos,

Des Daniels from Lion TV asked us to pass on this message:

We are currently producing a programme for Channel 4 about hospital nursing and midwifery. We would like to hear about experiences from both nurses and patients. We are interested to find out about specific situations or events during your stay or work in hospital with the view of potentially doing an interview on camera. For example as a patient did the nurses make you feel safe and looked after or did something go wrong. If you are a nurse or midwife how do you find the day to day working life? What works well and what could be improved?

Whatever you tell us, we'll treat the information confidentially and anonymously where necessary. Our aim is to make an fair and balanced programme about experiences in NHS hospitals today.

If you have a story to tell or if you would like to know more please feel free to get in touch by emailing me at des.daniels@liontv.co.uk or you can call us on 0208 846 2175.

One of the things that characterises the Filipino parenting style is a focus on academic success. For Filipino parents, education is crucial and subsequently, the brightest children are placed on a pedestal while those with bad grades get strong reprimands. This, I think, can lead to a strong fear of failure. Rather than taking on the more difficult challenges, children who wish to please their parents quickly learn to opt for the those that have the highest chance of success. After all, good grades led to praise whereas failure only means a taste of tsinelas.

A German photographer, Hartmut Schwarzbach, is a finalist for the Sony World Photography Awards 2009. His entry portrays the children of a charcoal burner’s camp in Manila. According to an article on the BBC News website, around 30 million Filipinos live in poverty. For comparison, the UK's population is at around 61 million.

This photo won the third-prize in the UNICEF Photo of the Year 2007. It shows of one of the camp's children, Annalyn, on her ninth birthday.