The Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia will present two educational cultural programs about indigenous groups in the Philippines in October as part of Filipino American History Month. A screening and discussion of the film The Soul of the Filipino through the Mangyan will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Richland Library, and a screening and discussion of the film K’na, The Dreamweaver will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at the Nickelodeon Theatre. SC Humanities supported this programming with a Mini Grant.
Filipino American History Month is celebrated in October each year to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States. The Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia will showcase the rich cultural heritage of two indgenous groups in the Philippines: the Mangyan of Mindoro and the T’boli of Mindanao.
Project Director Elen Callahan said, “Understanding indigenous cultures deepens the connections that Filipino Americans have to Filipino heritage and history, providing insights into diverse traditions, beliefs, practices, and struggles that shape Filipino identity. Sharing this knowledge with the broader South Carolina community helps develop empathy for similar challenges faced by indigenous peoples worldwide.”
The Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia will host two events in October:
Saturday, October 5, 2024 | 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
The Soul of the Filipino through the Mangyan – Film and Discussion
Location: Richland Library Main, Theater, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201
The film The Soul of the Filipino through the Mangyan investigates the Mangyan people of the Philippines. There are only four indigenous Filipino scripts that have been in continuous daily use since the 10th century AD. These were inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. Of these four writing systems, the Hanunoo Mangyan have their “ambahan” (poetry/song) to provide us with details of the pre-colonial Filipino. Through interviews with key people in the Mangyan Heritage Center, this video sheds light on the script, poetry/songs, and philosophy of the Mangyan and what this means in terms of the Filipino soul and the future of civilization.
Following the screening, there will be a discussion with the video producer Chiara Cox and FAAGC members Che and Eric Vejerano, who lived and worked as volunteers in Mindoro with the Mangyan tribe.
Free and open to the public
Info: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/event/2024-10-05/soul-filipino-through-mangyan
Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
K’Na, the Dreamweaver – Film and Discussion
Location: The Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
When Kana, a young T’boli woman, becomes a dreamweaver, she has the chance to weave together her village’s warring clans. But, will she give up true love to do so?
After the film screening, Benji Manuel, head of the T’boli Senior High School and member of the House of Storytelling, along with Ma. Cristina Juan, Project Head of Philippine Studies at SOAS, University of London and member of the House of Storytelling, will deliver a video presentation on the importance of cultural preservation both in the T’boli homeland and abroad.
Free and open to the public
Info: https://nickelodeon.org/events/knathedreamweaver/
The Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia is a volunteer, nonprofit organization to promote inter-cultural education and understanding. Learn more on the website: https://filamsc.org/.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
