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There was magic in the air on Saturday, October 8th. I wore two hats at FPAC this year. One was as a member of the This Filipino American Life family. We conducted interviews with several artists who performed at the festival as well as interviews with long time supporters of FPAC. The biggest thing that happened was we got to talk to Deedee Magno Hall.
This is the smile of someone who cannot believe they are taking a picture with someone they grew up watching on tv and listening to on cassette single. As a kid the Disney Channel was a premium channel and I can recall taping The Mickey Mouse Club the week we would have the channel. Why? Because of Deedee! She was young, Filipino, and acting and singing on tv. I completely fangirled on her and told her how I saw her at mall performance years ago when she toured with The Party. Deedee is also the voice of Pearl on Steven Universe, a show that I absolutely adore and makes me cry on the regular. I can't wait to share that interview with folks. It can be an audio commentary to this post.
The other big thing that happened at FPAC was that we started our short flags documentary journey. Folks from Oxnard and the South Bay came out to our short flags meet up and shared their stories with us. Many thanks to Eseel, Kirby, and Ana for holding it down.
FPAC is a time for reunions. You tend to run into friends and family at FPAC. It's what I love about the festival. At one point during the tinikling battle something magical happened. As the familiar strings of the rondalla played a group of us began to sway balance and dance tinikling with imaginary tinikling sticks. There was no pause in the moment, we all knew the moves, and for that short moment in time we weren't TFAL or short flags documentarians, we were Filipino Americans making a memory.
And then there was this moment. When Paul made Mike and I tear up. Catching up with this former Sessions LA student and hearing him tell Mike that Sessions saved his life was a poignant way to end the day. Thank you to everyone who shared their FPAC day with me, TFAL, and short flags.
Rest In Power - Guru Danny
Guru Danny was a Master kulintang musician and artist. He was the subject of The Cotabato Sessions, a documentary film by Joel Quizon and Susie Ibarra. We were lucky to get a picture with him when he performed at FPAC in 2014.
From The Cotabato Sessions: It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Master Danny Kalanduyan. Per sources close to him, Danny suffered a stroke at Stanford University Hospital September 27, 2016, where he had been admitted for a cardiac procedure. Rest In Peace, Danny. We are so honored and proud to have shared a little bit of your art and story. Our deep condolences goes out to his family, his friends, his many students that he has mentored through the years and all of those fortunate enough to have heared and seen him perform. We have lost a legend, a true master of his craft. In memory of the life and legacy of Danny Kalanduyan. We would like to share our film online for the first time. Thank you to all of you who helped to support making this film possible. Please share and consider donating to help pay for his funeral expenses here: https://www.gofundme.com/dannykalanduyan We have lost a great artist among us. We will never forget you, Danny and we will forever be grateful for sharing your passion, your art, your home, and your love with us. Your voice is the first thing we hear on this film and its your message of how music is shared and handed down generation after generation linking us to our past and our roots that will forever linger in our hearts. We will continue to keep the music always in the present. From Susie Ibarra and Joel Quizon The Cotabato Sessions from Joel Quizon on Vimeo.
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 I met Maya when she moved to LA a few years ago. She was friends of friends and Strawberry Farm Boy Mike mentioned that she was a part of Isangmahal, this spoken word collective we were both fans of, which was based out of Seattle. At Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Maya's work with Form Follows Function was screened in the program "Remapping LA." Remapping combined Maya's architectural background with visual storytelling. The results reminded me of the architecture books I would thumb through as a barista at Borders. Beautiful buildings captured in film form with the added bonus of the history and people surrounding them.
Maya and our friend Joel Quizon, who was one of my early Oblivious Interviews, have a kickstarter campaign (The Cotabato Sessions Kickstarter Campaign) to complete their latest project. They are four days away from raising their $15,000 goal! Check out the Oblivious Interview: Oblivious meets Maya Santos to learn more about Maya and this beautiful project. |
#ColorYourTroublesAway Organizer of coloring events in Los Angeles|#TFAL#TFALpodcast This Filipino American Life podcast @tfalpodcast|Writer of ObliviousnessFollow me on instagram (@obliviousnerdgrl) for daily obliviousness and teaser sheets for Color Your Troubles Away! Archives
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