2020 Film Festival Season - Balikbayan: From Victims To Survivors Feature-length Documentary

2020 does not seem to be like any other year our world has had thus far to say the least. Adapting, changing, surviving; I’m sure these words are simply an understatement of how the world has been coping since the COVID-19 global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization. I’m sure filmmakers and film festival producers had no idea that 2020 would be the year of no in-person events, screenings, or gatherings, and yet, just like the rest of the world, they make best with what they have. “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

The Philippine National Dance Tinikling - Live Rondalla Recording by The Cawagas Family

Mother and daughter powerhouse duo musicians Jea Cawagas-Cates and Erica Cawagas perform the Tinikling, which is recorded live at the Qi Creative Headquarters Studio on October 25, 2019 and is featured in the Documentary Balikbayan: From Victims To Survivors. Jea and Erica share the importance of sharing Filipino Culture, Music, and Arts around the world.

The Cawagas family was one of the most influential families in supporting both Jon Jon Rivero and his cousin Lindsey Rivero during their first trip to the Philippines in 2006. Their hospitality, love, and generosity is what truly helped Jon Jon and Lindsey feel most at home when they stayed in Cubao after their performance touring with the Filipino Canadian Saranay Association. They even took them on a family vacation with their extended relatives to Puerto Gallera, a beach paradise that mostly is frequented by locals. The Cawagas family will forever be family to Jon Jon and it is truly an honour to have his ate Jea and Erica record the Philippines National Dance Tinikling performed on Rondalla, which is to be featured in the documentary Balikbayan: From Victims To Survivors.

Live on location at Qi Creative HQ in Edmonton, AB, Composers/Musicians, Jea Cawagas-Cates & Erica Cawagas record and perform their arrangement of Tinikling, the National Dance of the Philippines. This song is incorporated in the award-winning feature film documentary BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors.

Balikbayan Project 2018 - Return to Roots: San Pedro, Tacloban City, Baguio City

If you have been following the Balikbayan Project journey thus far, you have probably realized that what started out as a trip that occurs every two years is now looking like a trip that occurs every year. The Balikbayan Project Team (although members may vary from year to year) has a core membership with Jon Jon Rivero (its Founder) and Paula Audrey Rivero (original member) since 2007. This 2018 Balikbayan Project Trip was a very special one as the team had a very special new member, Miss Lena Gloria Rivero, the beautiful baby daughter of Jon Jon and Paula. Lena Gloria was born in February 2018 and has become the newest Balikbayan Project team member to not only connect with its stakeholders in the Philippines but also meet her great grand titas, titos, titas, kuyas and ates in her lola Gloria’s hometown of San Pedro, Laguna. Both Jon Jon and Paula had a chance to visit their ancestral home and compound in San Pedro during the 2016 Balikbayan Trip and this time, they were able to bring along their sweet baby girl, Lena Gloria.

The Rivero family was able to visit the Agbulos ancestral home on their 2018 Balikbayan Project trip, which included visits to Metro Manila, Tacloban City, Baguio City, and San Pedro. Two years prior, Jon Jon and Paula were able to visit the ancestral home and this year, they were able to bring their 7 month old baby daughter Lena Gloria with them to visit with the lolas, titos, titas, kuyas, ates, and even some nieces and nephews.

At the beginning of the trip, Jon Jon & Paula reconnected with their good friend, Dr. Francis Dimalanta and provided lectures and keynotes for the Philippine Paediatric Society. The team was also able to share seminar workshops with the Philippine National Police force for the department that serves and protects women and children in Leyte Province. At the end of the trip, the Balikbayan Team finished the project off by providing workshops, seminars, and keynotes with Dr. Dimalanta’s special needs centre, A Child’s Dream, in Baguio City. It has been nine years ago since the team was last in Baguio serving this centre with the wonderful Dimalanta family and the team was honoured to be part of their anniversary celebration of changing the lives of so many children and families living with special needs.

Balikbayan Project 2017 - NIST International School Bangkok, Ronald McDonald House Metro Manila & My Name Is Trauma Seminars

This trip was an impromptu trip back to the Philippines because Jon Jon Rivero and Paula Audrey Rivero were hired to do a TEDx speech and set of workshops at NIST International School in Bangkok, Thailand. It was an opportunity to reconnect with Jon Jon’s good friend Dr. Francis Dimalanta, who had the Balikbayan Project Team provide seminars and workshops at his family’s special needs centre, A Child’s Dream, in Baguio City in 2010. This trip focused on delivering the My Name Is Trauma workshop for him and his closest professional colleagues, who are not only movers and shakers within the Philippines, but also prominent influencers in business, philanthropy, and social causes throughout the country. This trip was also one of the first Balikbayan Trips where the team was unable to connect directly with the Streetlight Philippines team but was a great chance to support the areas of Luzon, Cabuyao City (Sta. Elena Golf & Country Club), and areas just outside Metro Manila. Special thanks to Kuya Francis Dimalanta for the opportunity to reconnect and be able to share the My Name Is Trauma seminar workshops with those that needed it.

Hosted by the Tantoco Family in Santa Rosa, Laguna and Dr. Francis Dimalanta, the Balikbayan Project Team was able to share the introductory My Name Is Trauma Seminar Workshop with some of the Philippines' top influencers in business, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. This clip is a short intro to the beginning of the seminar which was held at the Sta. Elena Golf & Country Club in March 2017. It starts out with an impromptu a cappella performance by Rhythm Speaks duo Jon Jon Rivero and Rob Boothe and is followed by some Filipino Folk Dancing just prior to the reading of the book My Name Is Trauma by co-author Paula Audrey Rivero.

The Balikbayan Project Returns 2016, Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines

The Balikbayan Project Team returned 2 years following its last trip to collaborate once more with their Streetlight Philippines Family. This year’s focus was to implement special needs workshops and seminars with Streetlight and the local community rehabilitation medicine schools, centres, and service providers. The team consisted of occupational therapists, physical therapists, clinical social workers, hip hop choreographers, martial artists, musicians, and volunteers who wanted to share their skills and expertise with the local Taclobanons of all ages. This year, we also had two Pagpasabot Self-Expression Talent Showcases, one on the streets near the original Streetlight Philippines Building and one at Children’s Park near the sea. It was beyond memorable.

Jon Jon Rivero and the rest of the 2016 Balikbayan Team were invited to be guest speakers for the J2911 Hip Hop Crew Team Banquet to honour the parents of their community. As founder of the Balikbayan Project, Jon Jon Rivero shared his story of how the Balikbayan Project came to be and the interwoven events that led to Typhoon Yolanda and the healing journey together. Jon Jon finishes the speech with a tribute to his Filipino Folk Music culture instilled in him by his parents at an early age and a remix that incorporates beatbox.