Join us on December 7, 2025 for another original Filipino Canadian sarswela composed by the KW Sentro children’s and adult choirs. This year, we wanted to learn about martial law, a dictatorship, led by Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos that took place in the Philippines from 1972 to 1986. The adult choir engaged in weekly dialogue and kwentuhan circles around their memories and stories of martial law. What emerged was a rich and vibrant conversation about issues Filipinos face around the world and here on Turtle Island commonly referred to as Canada.
The members of the adult choir and community were very thoughtful in that we wouldn’t teach the children about the violence that took place. Only that we would teach the lessons learned by generations after Marcos’ regime ended.
Ako Ay Pilipino takes place in fictional school called Dreams Filipino Academy. They are led by a once favoured Ma’am Petunia Mesugat. But one day, because of her growing need to retain power, she takes over the school, and there is a revolt.
Arsenia “Seny” Pardo Dela Cruz is the maternal grandmother of Executive & Artistic Director, Dion Flores. She came to Canada in 1987 and is now a proud 89 year old. Dion went searching in his basement for something during COVID, probably to keep distracted from the pandemic. What he found was a box of piano sheet music that lola Seny played as a young pianist. What was in there was Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and Czerny, but also Apo Hiking Society, Cinderella, Hot Dog, Ernani Cuenco, Josefino Cenizal, Jose Molina, and the like.
This sarswela features selections from Arsenia Pardo Dela Cruz’s music library. Lola Seny was Dion’s first piano teacher from age 4 to 10. This sarswela serves the many ways that Dion tries to honour his elders through music, memory, and care.
We hope to see you there,
KW Sentro