This is another dream come true to have our film BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors as an official selection for the 2021 Regina International Film Festival & Awards. This is very special because Jon Jon Rivero, (Co-Producer & Co-Director), Rob Hillstead (Co-Director & Co-Producer), Bernie Hernando (Co-Producer), Paula Audrey Rivero (Associate Producer), and Ryan Recuenco (Associate Producer) are all originally from the Queen City and it so incredible to be able to celebrate with friends, family, and fellow filmmakers. Special shout out to our surrogate family back home in the Philippines. If you have not yet seen our film and would like to, please join us at RIFFA 2021 from August 10-14, 2021 and stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks.
“Another dream come true to say the least!” - Jon Jon Rivero, Co-Producer/Co-Director, BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors
Jon Jon Rivero, Co-Producer/Co-Director, holding “Moosie”, Trophy for the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature for BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors at the 2020 Edmonton International Film Festival
BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors receives Official Festival Laurels for Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film Documentary at the 2020 Edmonton International Film Festival.
“This is what happens when there is no live orchestra to cue you to wrap up an acceptance speech for a film award! Thank you so much @edmfilmfest for the honour of this award and @superchanneltv for sharing our story across the country. Thank you so much to my co-Director @rob_hillstead and co-producer @therealbernando Maraming Salamat Po sa iyong lahat! @qicreativeinc @echolands @darkgemsmedia @streetlight_ph” - Jon Jon Rivero, Co-Producer/Co-Director, Balikbayan: From Victims To Survivors
19 years ago, on January 16, 2002, Jon Jon Rivero (Founder of the Balikbayan Project) made a promise to his dad to go back to the Philippines right before he died. Jon Jon’s dad wanted to always take his family back to discover their humble beginnings but they were unable due his brain tumor and financial constraints. In 2006, Jon Jon kept his promise and embarked on a life long journey of learning, service, and discovery.
Dr. Jose Zamora Rivero and Mrs. Gloria Rivero were trailblazers of sharing Filipino Cultural Dances and Folk Music in provinces from the prairies in Alberta and Saskatchewan and as far as the maritimes in New Brunswick during the 1970’s (during the emerging diaspora of the Filipino people abroad).
Both Dr. Jose Z. Rivero and Mrs. Gloria Rivero belonged to a small group of pioneer Filipino Canadian Families in Saskatchewan that promoted the preservation and sharing of Filipino Folk Dances & Music with the next generation of Filipino Canadians, their children. Jon Jon Rivero, Founder of the Balikbayan Project, and Joel Rivero (Jon Jon’s brother) grew up with a tight-knit group of family friends that would share their love for performing Filipino Cultural Folk Dances and Music at many multi-cultural festivals in Western Canada. It is these dances and cultural folk musical art forms which served the basis for the Balikbayan Project’s Pagpasabot Self-Expression Festival each year with Streetlight Philippines since 2007.
This is a video to remember Jon Jon’s dad on his death anniversary, recorded on January 16, 2021 in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The Filipino Canadian Maharlika Dance Group of Regina, at The Mosaic Festival of Cultures put on by the Regina Multicultural Council, circa 1994. (Jon Jon Rivero is in the front row wearing glasses and his brother is wearing the yellow scarf, seated behind him.)
October 7, 2020 was the World Theatrical Premiere of our feature film documentary BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors at the 2020 Edmonton International Film Festival. Our film was shown at the Landmark Cinemas Downtown Edmonton for three screenings as part of this year’s festival. Additionally, the film was also broadcasted live across Canada on Superchannel due to the limited capacity allowed in the respective theatres. This was a dream come true to say the least and we cannot thank all of the producers, staff, and volunteers for making this festival a success (even during a pandemic) and thank you to all of our supporters all over the world who tuned in to watch our film. Due to the pandemic, our co-producer, Bernie Hernando (Regina), and co-director, Rob Hillstead (Vancouver) were unable to make it but they celebrated with us from their respective cities. Maraming Salamat Po Sa Iyong Lahat!
Paula Audrey Rivero (Associate Producer), Jon Jon Rivero (Co-Producer, Co-Director), Ryan Recuenco (Associate Producer)
Paula Audrey Rivero (Associate Producer), Jon Jon Rivero (Co-Producer, Co-Director), Ryan Recuenco (Associate Producer)
Rey Javier, Ryan Recuenco (Associate Producer), John McMillan (Composer), Jon Jon Rivero (Co-Producer, Co-Director), Paula Audrey Rivero (Associate Producer), Johnny Blerot (Sound Designer)
Vincent Brulotte, Kerrie Long (EIFF Executive Director, Producer), Jon Jon Rivero (Co-Producer, Co-Director)
Jon Jon Rivero, Co-Producer/Co-Director shares his gratitude for everyone that has contributed to the last 13 years of his life in making the film BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors. "It is truly a dream come true." - Jon Jon Rivero
It is with great honour and pleasure for our feature film documentary BALIKBAYAN: From Victims To Survivors to have become an official selection for the 2020 Compassion Film Festival Festival in Carbondale, Colorado. We are blessed to be part of this very important and relevant film festival in our world today. Our world can use a little more compassion in these times. Thanks to all of the incredible change makers and filmmakers who are telling stories of inspiration and positivity that help make this film festival a success.
The mission of the Compassion Film Festival is to create a mode of compassionate living by screening inspirational films, presentations, and workshops that provide vision, education, tools, and resources for individuals to cultivate compassionate actions in their lives.
Jon Jon Rivero, Co-Producer, Co-Director of the feature film Balikbayan: From Victims To Survivors was interviewed live by award-winning filmmaker, model, and artist, Gyalten Samten, also known as, Barkha Madan for the 2020 Compassion Film Festival on August 7, 2020. Since the film festival could not be held in-person at its normal location in Carbondale, Colorado, Balikbayan: From Victims To Survivors had its World Premiere Online with the 2020 Compassion Film Festival.