Fundraiser for Leyte landslide victims a huge success
Len Cervantes performs a spoken word piece entitled "I Am Struggle"at fundraiser for victims of Leyte landslide
UKPC/FCYA-TO co-organized a successful fundraiser for the victims of the Southern Leyte mudslide last Sunday, March 6. The event, entitled “It Takes a Village: A Relief Effort from Toronto’s Emerging Filipino Community” was the result of a first-time collaboration between various youth-led groups and individuals in the Filipino community. The organizers included UKPC/FCYA-TO, Len Cervantes of Kapisanan Philippine Centre, Minerva Records, From the Bamboo Poetry Collective and the Filipino Students’ Association of Toronto.
The event raised a total of $914 from entrance fees and raffle sales, plus almost enough canned goods and other items to fill a door-to-door box. Besides gathering material support, the event also raised awareness on the disaster, its causes and impact on the affected communities. A slide show from the Citizens’ Disaster Response Centre (CDRC) in the Philippines – the organization to which the donations will be sent – was played at the beginning of the show.
The evening was filled with positive energy as talented young musicians and spoken word artists showcased their talents for a good cause. “It Takes a Village” was an astounding demonstration of the solidarity among our youth in the face of tragedy. It also showed the strong connection that Filipino Canadian youth have to our motherland, regardless of whether they are first or second-generation Canadians.