Hawai‘i will mark Filipino-American History Month this October with FiliRooted: From Plantation to Diaspora, Filipino-American Voices in Hawai‘i Now—a free, month-long series of events honoring the legacy of the Sakadas and highlighting the creativity of Filipinos in the islands today.
Celebrate more milestones of Filipino pride in Hawai‘i by reading about the 14th Annual TOFA in Hawai‘i honoring global Filipino achievements.
Presented by House of Gongs in collaboration with Capitol Modern, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Art+Flea, and supported by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu and local government partners, FiliRooted will bring together music, dance, food, fashion, and storytelling at Capitol Modern throughout October 2025.
“We’ve been producing Gongster’s Paradise in San Francisco and have presented a few local programs in Hawai’i for the last eight years. As Filipino Indigenous culture advocates who have recently connected with the āina — including our relationship with the Sakada ancestors— we are learning that Hawai‘i’s Filipino community may need this kind of medicine for empowerment and for understanding the voices they hold today,” said Ron Querian, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of House of Gongs.
Learn more about Filipino excellence in the islands through the story of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i marking its 68th year as the oldest and largest in the U.S..
The month-long exhibit Bamboo to Brass: Sonic Journeys Across the Philippines will showcase Indigenous Filipino musical instruments, curated by House of Gongs and Elle Karayan, from bamboo of the northern highlands to brass gongs of the southern islands.
Highlights include:
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October 4 (2:00–5:00 PM): 808 x 63: Stories Between Islands — blessing, exhibit unveiling, Batok fashion show, and artist panel.
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October 18 (10:00 AM–12:00 PM): Pamana Kids Workshop — children’s storytelling, language, and music.
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October 25 (4:00–8:00 PM): Sakada to Cypher: Island Gongster Edition — finale featuring House of Gongs, local artists, and headlining rapper Ruby Ibarra with her NPR Tiny Desk Contest-winning band, plus a Filipino-American marketplace.
FiliRooted will also feature performances by June Millington, Ouida, Kulintronica, Jehzan Exclusive, Brian Adrias, Kaelyn Howard, Braddah Ash and The Zion Band, and more.
All programs are free with registration. Details and sign-ups are available at Filirooted.
Discover more inspiring stories of Filipino pride, heritage, and creativity by exploring the latest features on GoodNewsPilipinas.com.
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