Filipino American History Month culminates with Helobung, a music, dance, and song demonstration and workshops at Leeward Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The Helobung events are free and open to the public.
Helobung is an artist collective from Mindanao’s Indigenous Tboli community, Lake Sebu in Southern Philippines. Helobung means “endless joy,” a unique experience offered by this long-standing collective of Indigenous Tboli musicians, singers and dancers. In this rare opportunity for people in Hawaiʻi to experience Indigenous arts from the Southern Philippines, the five artists will give a demonstration of their dances, music and songs, teach participants movements, and engage attendees in a discussion about Indigenous Tboli culture.
“All the elements come from our community and our environment,” said ensemble leader, artistic director and dancer Michael Yambok. “It’s part of life. Dance and music are in our lives. When we perform, we don’t change anything about ourselves. The movements and expressions, the rhythm and melody—that’s who we are.”
Helobung event dates
- October 25, 1–3 p.m., Leeward CC Waiʻanae Moku Education Center
- October 26, 1–3 p.m., Leeward Theatre, Leeward CC
- October 27, 7:30 p.m., UH Mānoa, Barbara Smith Amphitheatre
Helobung is sponsored by Center Stage, a public diplomacy program of the U.S. State Department. Oʻahu is the last leg of Helobung’s tour of the U.S. with a primary focus on community engagement with Filipino Americans, the broader community and other Indigenous groups. The events at Leeward CC and UH Mānoa are presented by Leeward CC’s Filipino Studies, UH Mānoa’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Tau Dance Theatre and ILI Dances/ILI Performing Arts.
Leeward CC will also screen two films as part of Filipino American History Month.
- October 18—Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo
- October 25—Kun Maupay Man it Panahon
For more on the Leeward CC events email Desiree Quintero at desireeq@hawaii.edu.
