Kwentong Bayan:  Labour of Love is a community-based comic book project created by Althea Balmes (Illustrator) and Jo SiMalaya Alcampo (Writer) in close collaboration with Filipina migrant workers in the Live-in Caregiver Program. 
These are the stories that you don't see in mainstream media.  These are the stories that you won't find in most academic papers or research studies.   These are real-life stories of community and friendship, love and struggle, and women's empowerment.  

In the Filipino language, "kwentong bayan" is the literal translation of  "community stories" and our comic book project is rooted in love. 

Please visit our website to learn more: www.lcpcomicbook.com

Kapwa Collective Presents:
KAPWA On Screen
political, passionate, and powerful films for the community

Saturday January 19, 2013
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
519 Church Street Community Centre
Donations welcome. No one turned away for lack of funds.


The inaugural screening features short films by emerging artists from Canada and the Philippines and a feature by Auraeus Solito, internationally acclaimed filmmaker and Indigenous Peoples rights advocate.

All proceeds support indigenous-led projects by the T’boli School of Living Traditions Rebuilding Initiative and Rural Missionaries Philippines to rebuild indigenous schools destroyed by Typhoon Pablo/Bohpa.

Full details: http://kapwacollective.tumblr.com/events

Kapwa Collective Presents:
B A T O K - Kalinga Tattoo 
Markers of Identity: From Indigenous to Diasporic
with Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores, Anthropologist and Professor
University of the Philippines, Baguio

Saturday November 3, 2012
519 Church Street Community Centre
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Program

featuring storytelling of tattoo journeys by three Filipina Canadians, multimedia art by Kristina Guison and Jo SiMalaya Alcampo, and photography by Ruel Bimuyag

Full details: http://kapwacollective.tumblr.com/events

Kapwa Collective Presents:
BATOK-inspired Block Print Playshop
Facilitated by the Kapwa Collective
& guest artist Kristina Gusion

Thursday, October 25, 2012
Guerilla Printing
587A College St.
6:00 - 9:00 pm


We will explore:
- a brief history about Batok (Kalinga Tattoo)
- the meanings of Batok patterns
- and create your own Batok-inspired block prints

Full details: http://kapwacollective.tumblr.com/events

_The Autumn Equinox marks a time to offer thanks for love and guidance as we dream our intentions for new beginnings and creative projects into being.

In this spirit, we are honoured to introduce the home of the Kapwa Collective to the community.

Please join us on the journey:  kapwacollective.tumblr.com

__ i will be sharing a new interactive installation entitled:  Pamahiin / Ritual This! - a ritualistic rebel dreaming action for my kapwa on the journey towards decolonization at the 7th Annual KULTURA Filipino Arts Festival.                 

Pamahiin/Ritual Visual Art Exhibit
167 Augusta Ave (Toronto)
Exhibition runs August 17 to 31

Featuring:

Jo SiMalaya Alcampo

My Own Time Collective

Catherine Mary Zagar

Maureen Mendoza

Tim Manalo

full details

i accepted an invitation to present my installation, Singing Plants Reconstruct Memory at the KAPWA-3 Conference on Indigenous Knowledges in the Academe to be held at the University of the Philippines in Baguio City from June 28 to 30, 2012.

KAPWA-3 will convene scholars from diverse Philippine universities and Schools of Living Traditions, cultural workers and artists who are actively involved with preserving Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) in their lifeworks.  There will be international discussants from Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, the USA and Canada whose research points to the importance of IKSP in formal education.

i will be journeying with a group of Filipino-Canadian healers, artists, and critical thinkers from Toronto: Aimee Gomez, Jennifer Maramba, Christine Balmes, and Kristen Sison.  we are committed to sharing the learning process with our communities.  so in truth, you will be journeying with us. 

peace/katahimikan
jsa

maraming salamat / many thanks to Kidlat Tahimik, Dr. Katrin de Guia, and the Heritage and Arts Academies of the Philippines (H.A.P.I.) team for their support.

learn more about our kapwa journey

Support my Carlos Bulosan Theatre playwrighting-mate, Flerida Peña as she presents Sister Mary’s a Dyke?! to the community - jsa

Sister Mary’s a Dyke?!  by Flerida Peña
Friday May 25, 2012 at 8PM
& Sunday May 27, 2012 at 2PM
Fringe Creation Lab
720 Bathurst St, Suite 403
Pay-What-You-Can

This comedic drama focuses on Abby’s journey as she uncovers the truth about her school. Unbeknownst to her, the school is not only comprised of sexually active queer students and nuns, it is the training ground for a group of Catholic Extremists who are hell-bent on infiltrating Vatican City by secretly organizing their female members into the College of Cardinals.

more dykey goodness here

i will be sharing a new digitally animated version of re/connections II: Guided By Clouds at The Pearl:

join us for dream-sharing
to the sound of kulintang gongs
pantayo / for us
accompanied by kubings
carrying indigenous bird names
as we gather under waterfalls
of cordillera textiles
wrapped up in community love 
- jsa

Miracle Thieves hosts The Pearl - the first Cultural Series presenting The Philippines with an art exhibition opening on Thursday April 26th and a reception featuring Philippines-inspired music on Saturday April 28th, 2012

Exhibiting through Visuals, Sounds, Tastes and Knowledge (in alphabetical order):  Anakbayan Toronto, Jodinand Aguillon, Jo SiMalaya Alcampo, Centre for Babaylan Studies, CMango Design, Michaela Cruz, Sammy Jade, Kapwa 3 Conference (Baguio, Philippines), Lamesa Filipino Kitchen, Jen Maramba, Pacific Blues, Pantayo, Pinoy Culture Bookstore, Eric Quebral, The Original Fiddy and more.

maraming salamat / many thanks:
christine balmes for encouraging the re/connection
jen maramba for curatorial/spiritual support
- jsa

i had the pleasure of returning as one of the mentors with the CLUTCH program at Kapisanan this year.  Congratulations to the Vol. 4 participants: Charise Aragoza, Renelyn Quinicot, Victoria Marie, Victoria Bacnis, Diane Guison, Maureen Mendoza and Kristina Guison (Coordinator).

Please support their multimedia collaborative exhibit
BRUHA opening April 14, 2012 at 7pm

CLUTCH is a free six-month arts-based program for young Filipina women to start a dialogue with each other, receive mentorship support from professional artists, have access to tools to hone their creativity, define their identity, explore their cultural heritage, and tell their stories on their terms.  More information:  kapisanancentre.com