What can I say? We made it happen. We made a WHOLE MEAL by boiling rocks. The interns, the fellow co-directors and our lovely ED, yo, yall are family and I’m glad to spend time with you. The process is just as important as the product. It just so happens the product was fire.

Especially for the young folks (audience members), its good to see them exposed to cultural pride at this kind of overwhelming magnitude. You gotta realize they are looking up on stage wanting to BE those performers on stage. Wanting to BE YOU, nawmean? I’m glad that FPAC provides that venue, instead of being a space for selling condos in the Philippines and beauty pageants. So that tradition–that very conscious intentions of focusing on ART–is very obvious in the overall presentation of the festival. That’s the gem.

No one–NO ONE–knows the shit that goes down in organizing this festival, unless you are in the stinking grime of it. And for artists who want to put in work for Fil AM Arts, that’s more than welcome. Aside from the fact that organizers are already artists themselves, it’d be nice for FPAC performers to be involved in greater capacity. That’s fine, but be prepared to bear hug torn and oozing trash bags full of warm rice and diapers that fell from the dumpster (in the dark), getting unnecessarily antagonized by good artists who didnt make the roster but there simply isn’t unlimited space for both stages, getting yelled at by well-respected elders, somehow miraculously getting two stages synced when artists go longer than promised, looking for turntables for 51 different hip hop acts, finding replacement artists and emcees when fooz don’t show up or are late, not eating a single meal in 2 days, getting your gas syphoned from the hotel parking lot…yaaaaa…FPAC labor is glamorous. More glamorous than labor at a “coffeehouse” i think. ya dig?

On a side note, the simple truth is that if you don’t want to go to FPAC or perform there, just don’t go, don’t perform. There are more than enough willing artists (gotta give shouts out to those young folks and FPAC first-timers who showed love, showed up early, and worked generously with us when the schedule imploded).

I gotta say FPAC is a miracle. Especially when it could have been postponed this year, with less and less money every year, and less and less resources altogether. I’m still shocked its done…it happened. It’s an amazing experience with beautiful, talented people–the performers and participants for sure–but also those talented interns and organizers who are overworked, underpaid, and often undervalued.

The 18th Annual is already being planned…grants are being written to keep it above red, and moving it forward…by boiling rocks…

I think its time now that I mention that I am NOT Filipina nor do I speak Tagalong, in fact I am a Spanish speaking Mexican American who has a deeper appreciation for the Filipino culture than I have ever imagined. So… do I take offense to those who want to critize the Festival… of course and so should the community. This Festival was built on the idea of celebrating a culture, not pointing out, programming hiccups,long food lines, parking, and all the other petty ( yes it is petty) issues that are really all pretty insignificant.
Maybe instead of critizing the Festival and FilAm arts for this and that… people should be grateful that FPAC has been able to survive despite rising costs, budget cuts, and every other curve ball that has been thrown at it, becuase that truly is a symbol of the strength of the community…. and C’MON people lets rejoice that for a change!
So thank you Fil Am Arts for continually creating a venue where family, friends and non Filipinos alike can celebrate in love and harmony. Thank you to the volunteers who, year after year, are instrumental in the entire planning and expedition process. And Thank you to all those who Lift FPAC up!!!!!

Viva la Raza y la familia de los Filipinos

sorry, that just slipped. i almost had another “boondock saints” kind of tourette’s moment. F***!!! A**!!!

speaking of the 90’s, i say we BRING BACK the EARLY 90’s on multiple levels. i hereby call for the resurrection of all “newskool flip” cliques. all my “kroos”, where you at?! j4f in the house! way II drunk in the house! dopestyle posse in the house! hawla and raize da roof!

FPAC is necessary.
FPAC helps people get what they need..
FPAC is not perfect.
FPAC is open to suggestions.
FPAC never has enough people working on it.
FPAC is waiting for people to come in and change it and keeps asking for people to come and help.
You should understand the historical gains, financial and human resource capacity of FilAm ARTS, a public corporation whose budgets are public record.
You have ideas on how to make it better.
You have time to make it better.
You should call Jilly, the only person left working at FilAmARTS, and tell her how you can help.

I contest nothing anyone wrote, especially Kiwi!
Artists need and deserve a living wage and fair pay for their work.
Costs are rising for everyone, even artists.
FilAm ARTS’ solutions may not have solved the problems, but I hope to make the argument that we tried, and tried really hard.
It is even ok for FilAmARTS to be off the mark.
But what is not ok for me is that folks do not see or understand the history of actions taken to shore up the gap.
Its easy to think all that is wrong is due to a simple “not getting it”.
But no one cares what was actually done internally, how it worked, who did it and what they faced.
I think it is stupid not to consider what was actually done and who put what on the line to try to make it happen.

The argument from the artists’ perspective is that FilAm ARTS gets the benefit and shares none of the costs.

The argument from me, speaking as former FilAM ARTS, feels more like the Filipino community gets the benefit and shares none of the costs (except $7 for a ticket and $2 for drinks).

The truth is everyone eats a big fat one.

So then the question really is: why have the festival? It is an expensive party that turns over hardly anything for anyone. Should it be cancelled? Should it keep going?

Why not just give in to the $55 dolphy tickets?

Why not throw in the towel now that there are so many filipino markets and the tfc?

Why not scrap 17 years of hard work?

Why should anyone pick up the whip to punish themselves to do the work that it takes to make the festival?