WORKSHOP SESSION 1

Sayaw Pilipino - "SA-Nagdaan, SA-Kasalukuyan, SA-Hinaharap"
Facilitator: Nor
This workshop intends to evaluate the evolution of Philippine folk dances prior to the formation of two well know Philippine folk dance troupes ( Bayanihan and Filipinesca) in the late 50s and early 60s, who became the ambassadors of Philippine cultures abroad. The discussions will focus on the past and the current theatrical performance of the dances as well as the similarity of the music with other countries. Then looking ahead into the future; the workshop leader and the audience will try to visualize the modernization of some dances to connect with younger generations and to avoid offending other ethnic groups as the Philippines and other countries become melting pots of cultures.

Communicating with Filipinos in the Diaspora
Facilitator: Deling Weller
Provides a glimpse into the language spoken by Filipinos, the people from the Philippines, which may be important to know particularly in a life or death situation. Filipino, the national language of the Philippines, is a composite of vocabularies acquired from foreign and local languages as a result of many years of being under colonial rule, being in the midst of a busy trade route since ancient time, and one of the center of internet communication at present. Workshop participants will participate in a communication game which will enable them to write, read and speak in Filipino as well as to understand some jokes which will earn them some Filipino friends anywhere in the world.

Filipino Martial Arts
Facilitator: Christopher Dino
Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), thought to be exclusively weapon based, is actually a complete system of self-defense and the most effective form of the warrior arts. The various forms and names of FMA (Kali, Arnis, Eskrima, Silat, Kuntao, Dumog, Buno, Panatukan, and Sikaran) is a full-mixed system that enables you to turn your whole body and anything around into a weapon. Training in the combination of hand held blunted, bladed, flexible and projectile weapons in real time against realistic scenarios will triple your reflexes, which is fully transferable to empty hand fighting. Weapons training will keep you aware and disarming skills will increase your chances of surviving several forms of attacks. This workshop will cover basic techniques and practical applications of the art, explore its historical form (its role in the Philippine revolutionary movements), and discuss its current cultural impact on the Filipino identity. Back To Top

Baybayin/Alibata Cultural (Art. History.)
Facilitator: David Lazaro
Baybayin (aka Alibata), the ancient writing script of the Philippines, has seen a new rise in popularity among the Filipino youths through tattoos and artwork. But what is Baybayin? Is it the same thing as Alibata? Why is it no longer used today as the mainstream text of the Philippines, and why have so few in the Philippines heard of it? Learn about the almost-forgotten text that wrote the pages of an almost-forgotten history, culture, and identity. In this workshop, you will be introduced to Baybayin writing and learn the basics of how to write Baybayin. Recommended for those considering Baybayin tattoos, and those interested in pre-Spanish Philippine culture. Back To Top

Net Who? NET YOU!
Facilitator: Jon de Castro
Network. Network. Network. This is probably the most common advice you will hear no matter your career. Given the current state of the economy and with the way the current job market is (and is projected to look like over the next couple of years), networking will be an effective means of securing a job after graduation. In this workshop, you will learn the proper skills that will enable you to build effective relationships with the people in your line of work and lay the foundation for your future. Back To Top

Salvaging the Savage: The Art of Reconstructing Filipinos' Distorted Identity
Facilitator: Chris Magno
During the United States' colonization of the Philippines, American magazines and newspapers distorted the identity of Filipinos through caricatures. Caricatures of the Filipino in these publications were marked by racism, standardization, stereotyping, distortion, and mendacity. This workshop will allow us to examine the caricatures and reconstruct the distorted images of Filipinos during colonization. Pooling our collective talents, we will rebuild the identity of the Filipino through creative forms such as music, dance, poetry, poster presentations, photographs, collages and skits. Back To Top

Globalization and The Philippine Labor Export: From Economic
Diaspora to Communities of Resistance
Facilitator: Ligaya McGovern
This workshop will provide an analysis of the Philippine labor export policy in the context of neoliberal globalization, its impact, and the collective resistance of Filipino migrants in different parts the world. Dr. Ligaya Lindio McGovern, a Filipina Associate Professor of Sociology, will share findings from a decade of research on the topic from which she has produced a book-length manuscript. She has conducted fieldwork in Hong Hong, Taiwan, Vacouver (Canada), Rome, Chicago (USA), and the Philippines. She will also incorporate information she recently learned from her short visit in Athens, Greece (Novemeber 2009) about the Filipino migrant communities there. What implications can we draw from these experiences in shaping a Filipino American identity - one that Is linked to the homeland while finding a place here. Back To Top

Kulture & Liberation
Facilitators: Bagwis Collective
Participants gain a basic understanding of how their personal experiences are interwoven into the fabric of Philippine history and culture through a collaborative process of sharing and group exercises. Through this process, participants gain a more critical approach to understanding and expressing their own analysis of social reality through the arts. Its goal is to empower participants with the consciousness of collective identity and collaborating as a group to define culture as a tool for self awareness and empowerment. Back To Top

CONFERENCE WITHIN A CONFERENCE (CWaC)
Conference Within a Conference or CWaC is aimed to continue to build the Midwest Association of Filipino Americans as a coalition group. This will be the first MAFA meeting since the new MAFA Executive Board was elected at the F.A.C.T. Conference this past fall. CWaC's goals: discuss the progress of the organization thus far, discuss improvements that can be made, and empowering younger leaders to take on larger roles within MAFA and their organizations. This meeting is open to ONLY Presidents, VP-Externals and aspiring executive officers. If interested in attending the lunch, please select "yes" during the registration process. Please note that space is limited.. Back To Top

WORKSHOP SESSION 2

Modern Dance
Facilitator: TBA
Learn hip-hop choreography from a well known Filipino American dancer and choreographer. Back To Top

Filipino American Leadership
Facilitator: Joel Wong
This workshop focuses on Filipino American leadership, with a particular emphasis on the influence of cultural values and stereotypes on Filipino American leadership concerns. Back To Top

Crime, Politics and Justice in the Philippines
Panalists: Chris Magno, Prof. Philip Parnell and Boyet Caparas
The papers for this panel will draw on recent original empirical research to consider the vicissitudes of crime in the Philippines across distinctively different yet interconnected areas of institutional and daily life while interrogating relationships among crime and processes that shape communities, bureaucracies, and the nature of governance. After considering the justice system in the Philippines, panelists will explore how politicians convicted of crimes turn their "criminal" acts and identities into political capital within legal and electoral processes. Then they will turn their attention to the nature of urban land syndicates andexamine how people's organizations of the poor may succeed where law enforcement has failed in containing the power of land syndicates to create multiple "legal" title holders for the same plots and regions of urban land. Back To Top

Music of the Philippines - Changes Through Time
Facilitator: Nor
This workshop intends to bring the audience to the memory lane of some Filipino songs where some of them can be considered extinct or the younger generation (less than 50) have not heard of; or if they did, they cannot identify types of Filipino songs. There will also be songs that we will try to associate with western culture and make comparisons of the difference in music tempo. The workshop will strictly focus on Filipino songs, not the Philippine music as a whole. Back To Top

Theater as a Weapon for Social Justice
Facilitators: Bagwis Collective
The People's Theater's form of problem posing education encourages a dialogue and critical analysis of the realities of the oppressed. It breaks down the wall between the actor and the spectator allowing a fluid exploration of issues that affects the subordinate groups and individuals. The issues and problems of class struggle cuts across the social scope of race, ethnicity, gender, education and social influence. The workshop is an interactive exercise on exploring classism and power structure in the society. A departure from the conventional sit-down lecture, the workshop is based on the techniques of the Theater of the Oppressed. The aim is to use an experiential approach to pinpointing and hopefully solving the problems. Back To Top

Baybayin/Alibata Modern (Design. Communication.)
Facilitator: David Lazaro
With the increasing awareness about Baybayin expanding the ever-growing Baybayin community, questions about the future of Baybayin are asked and postulated; where do we go from here? What can be done? What should be done? Should the Philippines completely adapt Baybayin as the national script? As a graphic designer and an avid fan of typography/letter-art, David Lazaro will discuss his views about modern Baybayin, the practical vs. the impractical, and show possible uses of Baybayin in graphic and motion design. This new workshop is recommended for those already familiar with Baybayin and/or have an interest in graphic design, typography, or conceptual ads and marketing. Back To Top

Entrepreneurship: Doing what you love
Facilitator: Christina Luna
Everyone has something they love to do. And most would say that if they could do what they love to do as their career, they would. How does one start their own business and embark on the journey of entrepreneurship? What makes someone go against the norm and say to themselves "I want to start my own business.?" There are many success stories of entrepreneurship, but they don't exist without their many challenges. Be equipped with the understanding of how to start a business, knowing what you want, the risks you'll face, and the ultimate rewards.
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