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Manila Bulletin devider Drive devider Filipino languages celebrated in night of music at the Philippine Center in New York

Filipino languages celebrated in night of music at the Philippine Center in New York

Published Nov 6, 2021 12:30 pm

Atin Cu Pung Singsing

SING IN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE Philippine-born artist, Jevijoe Vitug, a 2021 recipient of the New York City Artist corps grant for his project, ‘Mother Tongue Karaoke,’ tapped by Consul General Cato to facilitate the event, gives his introduction

On Oct. 28, The Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York reverberated with the songs of home, during the first ever “OK, Karaoke! Kantahan sa Wikang Kinagisnan” hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in New York as part of its celebration of Filipino-American History Month.  

Members of various Filipino Community organizations belted out some of their favorite folk songs in Tagalog, Kapampangan, Ilocano, Cebuano, and Maranao in this night of fellowship and appreciation of Filipino languages. The songs included Penpen de Sarapen, Usahay, O Narianag nga Bulan, O Papanok ako Bo, and Ang Pipit, Atin Cu Pung Singing.

“These languages are not only instruments of communication, they are considered an integral part of our Filipino culture and identity, as they capture the very heart and soul of the collective experience of all our regional communities that make us a Philippine nation,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said in his welcome remarks.

“Sustaining the use of these languages for generations of Filipino-Americans to come is therefore crucial, if we want to preserve our Filipino culture and identity here in the United States,” he said.

OK, KARAOKE Annabelle Abano-Loven-Dahl of Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity (CEBU) serenades the audience with the Cebuano song, ‘Carmela’

Philippine-born artist Jevijoe Vitug, a 2021 recipient of the New York City Artist Corps grant for his project, “Mother Tongue Karaoke,” was tapped by Consul General Cato to facilitate this event, which was attended by close to 100 members of the Filipino Community.

‘Sustaining the use of these languages for generations of Filipino-Americans to come is therefore crucial, if we want to preserve our Filipino culture and identity here in the United States.’

Consul General Cato said Vitug’s project was adopted not only because it was aligned with the Philippine Consulate General’s desire to preserve and promote Filipino languages but also because it offered a fun and convivial way to learn and appreciate unfamiliar words, through the medium of karaoke. 

Given the positive reception from the Filipino Community, the Philippine Consulate General in New York intends to hold this event annually.

Related Tags

Philippines Jevijoe Vitug New york Panorama Consul General Cato
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