PAGSULONG!!TWO BACK2BACK EVENTS THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY!!

Press Release
September 19, 2006

Filipino youth and students celebrate
upcoming formation of Canada-wide organization

TORONTO – This weekend, September 23-24, delegates from Filipino youth organizations will congregate in a conference called “Pagsulong: Filipino Youth Uniting and Advancing Our Struggles”, at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) on 252 Bloor Street West. This event, hosted by Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada / the Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance – Toronto Chapter (UKPC/FCYA-TO), is a gathering of youth and student organizations from all over Canada that have been conducting education, organizing and mobilizing work for the rights and welfare of Filipino youth and the Filipino community, and participating in efforts towards genuine social change in the Philippines. The conference aims to consolidate and strengthen the efforts and strategies of these organizations by forming a national alliance.

To support and celebrate this historical formation of a Canada-wide alliance of Filipino youth, everyone is invited to attend two back-to-back, non-profit events that bookend the conference.

“Pagsulong: A Fundraiser Uniting Filipino Youth” is a night of live music, spoken word, and B-boying, which happens on Friday, September 22, at 8:30 PM. The fundraiser will be held at Down One Lounge at 49 Front Street (West of Church). Anticipated to perform are Castro, Dagamuffin, Juls N Jills, RMX Crew, and Spin. The fundraiser is an all ages event before 10:30 p.m., and Just Reach Fridays featuring DJ Sweet Touch Foundation and DJ Prime Choice from 10:30 p.m. onward. The suggested donation is $5 – $10.

“Pagsulong: Solidarity Night” follows the first day of the conference on Saturday, September 23, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Kapisanan Philippine Arts Centre on 167 Augusta Avenue (West of Spadina, North of Dundas West). The program for the evening includes the formal announcement of the national Filipino youth organization being formed at the conference.

The evening also features performances from Filipino artists from Toronto, including Jessica David, Out Of Luck, Addictive Remedy and more. From 9:00 to 10:00 p.m., there will be a Poetry Jam sponsored by From the Bamboo and Kapisanan Philippine Arts Centre.

“Pagsulong: Solidarity Night” is an all ages event, with a suggested donation of $5 or pay-what-you-can for high school students. High school students must show their school ID.

All proceeds from these events will go towards covering the conference costs.

For more info about the Pagsulong fundraiser and solidarity night, contact:
Balance (UKPC/FCYA Toronto) – (416) 556-6265, or
Len Cervantes (From the Bamboo / Kapisanan Philippine Arts Centre) – (416) 427-7167