Pakasaritaan is an Ilokano word that holds within its meaning the telling of stories, myths, legends, histories and traditions. We have borrowed this term from Manong Julius Bajet Soria’s dissertation PAKA(SARITA)AN: ON ILOKANO LANGUAGE, IDENTITY, AND HERITAGE EDUCATION. LAING launched Pakasaritaan in 2021 as a way of meeting our goals to reach outside our Filipino communities and into our surrounding pacific communities. Here we feature workshops, series, cohorts and classes from various community members with special skills or stories to share (i.e weaving, net making, folk dance/song, cooking, language, navigation, beekeeping, stories from past labor movements in Hawai‘i, etc.); prioritizing sharing & documentation of unique stories, information and skills. If you have pakasaritaan you wish to share we ask you to submit a proposal to LAING for consideration. Our current projects for this program are below:
Kadaanan nga Agas: Reconnecting with Our Ancestral Medicine through Family Remedies and Food Dishes
May 7, 2022
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM HST
Manoa Heritage Center
2856 Oahu Ave
This workshop is intended for Filipinx interested in building a relationship with their culture by exploring traditional folk medicine they grew up with but haven’t inquired family members about before. We will discuss the impact of colonialism and capitalism on traditional healing and health. We will also reflect and remember the remedies and foods we grew up with for health and medicine and find ways to reestablish and reconnect with our folk medicine that has been passed down in our families through the generations. Plantcestors from Manoa Heritage Center’s Acopan Filipino Garden will “co-teach” the workshop.
Space is limited so please sign up only if you can commit to the date and time. Please note, this workshop will be in-person.
Instructor:
Nicki Garces
Community Soul Searching: A Workshop in Writing, Performance, and the Creative Process
Date and Registration Forthcoming. Check back soon!
The main goal of this workshop series is to encourage folks to write and feel confident in crafting, documenting, and potentially dramatizing stories of identity, culture, etc. that are important to participants.
It is recommended to attend all 3 workshops. Space is limited so please sign up only if you can commit to all dates and times. Please note, this workshop will be in-person and open to writers of all experience levels.
Instructor:
Sean-Joseph Choo
Sean-Joseph Choo is an actor, composer, and writer employed at Honolulu Theatre for Youth.
Sean’s plays have been selected for readings at Playbuilders of Hawai’i and Kumu Kahua Theatre. He is one of three playwrights participating in the 2021 Creative Lab Hawai’i Playwrights Immersive Program. Sean is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Playwright Development Committee at Kumu Kahua Theatre, and the Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists.
Past Programs
Who I Be?
March 20, 2022
Sunday
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This virtual workshop is for anyone interested in learning something new through hip hop. It will involve the following activities: sharing your social biography, free-writing, journal entry, as well as classroom & small-group discussions. Space is limited.
Instructor:
Jesand Amodo (aka Jehzan Exclusive)
Born & raised on Oahu, HI Jesand Amodo (aka Jehzan Exclusive) is a rising pinay hip hop artist, educator, and entrepreneur. As a “90s kid” in the Filipino diaspora, Jesand grew up with a love for music and storytelling. During her senior year of high school, she participated in a youth conference at UC Berkeley, where she learned how to think critically about issues in her community, take action, and express herself through spoken word. Since then, Jesand has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard, earned her B.S.B.A in Marketing from Hawaii Pacific University, and continues to expand her goals and dreams through hip hop, education, and entrepreneurship. As an artist, Jesand has performed in Hawaii, California, and the Philippines; she is highly active on social media. In addition to music and entrepreneurship, she has been teaching on Oahu for 5 years. Jesand and her partner, Gie, co-founded their independent music label, SkyLex Records in 2012. Jesand currently works as a computer/technology teacher at Kauluwela Elementary School.
Katutubo
February 27, 2022
Sunday
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
“What is the purpose of poetry?” Join us for this virtual Filipino Community Poetry Writing Workshop. We will use poetry as a form of community-building and self-reflection. This workshop is open to writers of all experience levels.
Instructors:
Czaerra Galicinao Ucol, Director of Luya
Christian(she/they), Creative Director of Luya
Janelle Salanga (they/them), Visayan and Chinese writer
Chachie Abara (she,her,siya), Founder of Kasamahan Co
Czaerra Galicinao Ucol [right] is a queer Filipino writer from Chicago. They hold a B.A. in Asian/Pacific/American Studies from New York University and are the Program and Communications Director of Luya, a grassroots poetry organization centering people of color in Chicago. They are a 2021 Best New Poets nominee. In their free time, they like listening to Lake Michigan’s waves crashing, basking in gardens, and trying out new recipes.
Christian (she/they) [left] is a queer, multiracial Filipinx poet, teaching artist, and community organizer currently based in Chicago. She is the founder and Creative Director of Luya, a poetry organization that centers the voices of people of color. She currently serves as the Youth Organizer at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, and she believes deeply in using poetry to build community and to educate ourselves about history. Her poetry has been published at Injustice Watch, the Chicago Reader, and Marias at Sampaguitas. Her performances have been featured at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Stony Island Arts Bank, Young Chicago Authors, on NPR’s Worldview, and more. When she’s not poeming-around you can find her cooking in her PJs, slaying dragons in Skyrim, or subtweeting the patriarchy.
Janelle Salanga (they/them) is a Visayan and Chinese writer. They’re passionate about journalism as a tool for record-keeping and nuancing the narratives of communities made marginalized & about story-telling as a political art & act of love. They love writing that flips your heart inside-out and making too many Spotify playlists.
Chachie Abara (she,her,siya) is a 1.5 Ilokana immigrant from the Philippines. She is a recent graduate at the University of Hawai’I at Manoa in Psychology and Ilokano studies. Founder of Kasamahan Co, a multimedia company that centers around voices for Filipinos in Hawai’i. She hopes to build a network of Filipino youth and young adults to share their stories and to have this company uplifts so many creative and talented voices out there!
Voyaging Through Words Podcast
Languages of the Ancestors
September 4, 2021 – September 11, 2021
Saturdays
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
PAST PODCASTS
LAING Hawai`i is partnering with
Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp
to bring together an online panel to look at etymologies and cognates in various Austronesian languages including: Ibaloi, Ilokano, Marshalles, Tagalog, Olelo Hawai`i, Bisaya, Chavacano, Tausug, Bahasa Malaysia, Motu- Central Papua-New Guinea, Ayta Sambal Botolan & Samoan. This three part podcast series will highlight the similarities of basic Austronesian languages and how that relates to our worldview. It aims to encourage people to learn their ancestral languages and promote other Austronesian languages.
Moderator:
Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp
Panelists:
Brgy Captain Chris Belino (Ibaloi and Ilocano)
Prof. Desmond Narain Doulatram (Marshallese)
Dr. Ronnie Pangan (Tagalog)
Cecilio Alforque (Bisaya and Chavacano)
Floriza Alforque (Tausug)
Nur Hussein (Bahasa Malaysia)
Ian Apau (Motu-Central Papua-New Guinea)
Dr. Samuel Maniago Balintay Jr. (Ayta Sambal Botolan)
Ma’osi Travis Tuitele (Samoan)
Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp is Native Hawaiian and Filipino indigenous researcher, cultural historian, writer, and blogger. Their currently working on “The Melting Pot Myth Project” which aims to understand how racism works in Hawai’i. Adam can be found on IG and Twitter as @adamkeawe.
Falegagana Samoa
September 12, 2021 – November 21, 2021
Sundays
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
LAING Hawai`i is partnering with Samoan language and culture enthusiast
Maosi Iosefa Tuitele Opetaia-Maosi
to bring Samoan language and culture classes to the community. This program focuses on building a strong basic language foundation including but not limited to Introductions/Pronunciation, Greetings, Numbers, Questions, Pronouns, and more! Each session we will study a song Savalivali and Story of Sina to be presented by the class for the end of program presentation day.
Maosi Iosefa Tuitele Opetaia-Maosi is a former language teacher at Le Fetuao Language Center & Leleiga o Aiga non profit.
LAING Hawai‘i strives to create a brave safer space where everyone can feel empowered. To that end we have a set of tenets that help us to remain accountable to each other. Please review these tenets here and understand that your participation in any LAING Hawai‘i programming is under the assumption that you will hold yourself to these tenets. That being said any harassment in-person or online will not be tolerated. You may be expelled for harassment or other issues and will not be entitled to any refund of costs or compensation of any kind.