Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia celebrates Filipino American History Month with a series of exciting events

Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia, a leading advocate for promoting cultural diversity and heritage awareness, is proud to announce a vibrant lineup of events in celebration of Filipino American History Month throughout the month of October.

Filipino American History Month, observed annually in the United States, is a time to recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of the Filipino American community to the fabric of our nation. It is an opportunity to celebrate the rich culture, heritage, and achievements of Filipino Americans and to shed light on their significant role in shaping the diverse tapestry of America.

In partnership with the Richland Library and the University of South Carolina School of Music, Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia has curated an engaging calendar of events that aims to foster cross-cultural understanding, build bridges across the community, and educate individuals of all backgrounds about Filipino American history and culture. Most events are open to the public and will take place at various locations across downtown Columbia. All events are free.

• Preview: First Thursday on Main

  • Date: October 5, 6:30pm

  • Location: Boyd Plaza, Main Street, Columbia

  • Filipino artists join the thriving mix of Columbia talent and Main Street Businesses to kick off the month of October. A Filipino Food Truck will offer a Taste of the Philippines

• Opening Ceremony: Weaving Communities Through Cloth

  • Date: October 6 @ 6:30pm

  • Location: Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly Street

  • Join us as we kick off the month-long celebration with an inspiring opening ceremony featuring traditional Filipino performances, Filipino food, and the launch of Weaving Communities and Cultures through Cloth, our carefully curated museum-quality contemporary Filipino textile exhibit

• Film Screening: HARANA: The Search for the Lost Serenade

  • Date: October 16 @ 7pm

  • Location: Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main Street

  • Classically-trained musician Florante Aguilar rediscovers the music of Harana – a long-forgotten tradition of Filipino serenade – through the music of three of the last surviving practitioners – a farmer, a fisherman and a tricycle driver.  A beautiful film, gloriously shot in the remote provinces of the Philippines, Harana the Movie is a musical love letter to the complex Filipino culture and its people.

• Presentation: Philippines Textile – A Complex Mapping

  • Date: October 22 @ 3-4pm

  • Location: Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly Street

  • In conjunction with our textile exhibition at the Richland Library Main, author Marian Pastor Roces, one of the world’s experts on Philippine textiles, discusses the significance and creation of traditional hand-woven textiles. This program is sponsored by SC Humanities, a state program of National Endowment for The Humanities that provides funding to programs and projects supporting the humanities in South Carolina. SC Humanities has been inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs about literature, history, culture and heritage for more than 40 years.

• Masterclass: Filipino Classical Guitar by Michael Dadap and Florante Aguilar

  • Date: October 27 @ 1:10-2pm

  • Location: USC School of Music

  • USC School of Music students will delve into the heart of traditional Filipino classical guitar. The masterclass will be taught by Michael Dadap and Florante Aguilar, world-renowned Filipino guitarists, composers, and advocates of Philippine music art forms in the US and abroad. Mr. Dadap is the founding music director of the Iskwelahang Rondalla (Rondalla School) of Boston and is the artistic and musical director and principal conductor of the Children’s Orchestra Society (COS) in New York City. Mr. Aguilar wrote and co-produced the award-winning 2012 documentary, Harana: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade.

• Community Workshop: Filipino Identity Through Music

  • Date: October 28 @ 3-4pm

  • Location: Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly Street

  • For all ages, the workshop promotes cultural exchange through music. It will be led by world-renowned classical guitarists Michael Dadap and Florante Aguilar and will include local singers and dancers to showcase Filipino music, song and dance.

• Concert: Filipino Classical Guitar featuring World-Renowned Artists Michael Dadap and Florante Aguilar

  • Date: October 29 @ 3-4:30pm

  • Location: USC Recital Hall

  • The capstone event of our month-long celebration. Be prepared to be transported on a musical journey as Michael Dadap and Florante Aguilar present their interpretation of the rich and emotional melodies of traditional Filipino folk songs. This concert is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for music lovers, enthusiasts of Filipino culture, and anyone seeking an unforgettable musical experience. Our music program is sponsored by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs and the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC). The mission of the SCAC is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in artist development, arts industry, arts learning, creative placemaking, and folklife and traditional arts. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C. the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources.

The Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia is excited to collaborate with various community partners, businesses, and institutions to make these events possible. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors for their generous support in bringing Filipino American History Month to life.

Let us come together to celebrate the vibrant spirit of the Filipino American community and embrace the shared cultural heritage that unites us all. We look forward to seeing you at these exciting events!

About Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia

The Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia is charitable, all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization duly registered and incorporated in South Carolina. Since 1991, the Association has been preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines through cultural and educational presentations to the greater Columbia community, promoting better relations between Filipinos and the greater Columbia community through charitable and humanitarian efforts and encouraging the development of a younger generation of Filipino-Americans through educational scholarships. For more information about the events and to stay updated on the latest schedule, please visit our website at http://filamsc.org or follow us on Facebook.