Pilipinx Diasporic Cultural Ritual ‘Lakbai Diwa’ Explores Survival, Resilience, Prosperity
Dancers will perform a living dance prayer and meditation for the world. Spirit Boats offerings of food, flowers, herbs and power objects and festooned with prayer flags.
Project features over 35 artists and cultural practitioners in dance, film, murals
San Francisco, CA | October 20, 2020-- In the midst of a global pandemic and a crisis that has devastated different aspects of our being, the Filipino American Development Foundation commissions San Francisco’s premiere presenter of contemporary and tribal Pilipinx arts in the United States, Kularts, to bring forth ‘Lakbai Diwa,’ a multi-disciplinary project that explores ancestral oceanic culture of survival, resilience and prosperity. The project incorporates a film (to be released at a later date), street mural tour, and diasporic cultural ceremony that can be experienced outdoors in compliance with COVID-19 safety measures. The 20 minute Lakbai Diwa Spirit Dance Ritual, is a cultural ceremony that will take place in SOMA Pilipinas (the city’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District), at the Yerba Buena Gardens on Saturday, October 24, at 3:00pm, and again at SoMa’s Sunday Streets Undiscovered SF Pop up (Folsom St between 6th and 8th), on Sunday, October 25 at 3pm.
‘Lakbai Diwa’ coalesces spirit boats with elemental states of fire, water, earth, wind and transcendence as sacred deities and powers, another component of the project. Bridging contemporary artistic experiences that represent the resilience and transformative values of the diasporic Pilipinx people, ‘Lakbai Diwa’ draws inspiration from boats which have been an essential part of life and culture of our people in the archipelago for thousands of years. Used as vessels and with specific purposes such as homes, transportation, fishing, trade, exportation, war and recreation. The diverse types of boats include lepa, bangka, paraw, baroto, vinta, kakap, karakoa and balangay.
“Fused with indigenous spirituality, boats as vessels exemplify the balance we seek in life. In the Mindanaoan Ipat ritual, the spirit boat is a vehicle for communing with the spirit world and the higher self. The spirit boat carries the offerings and prayers to the sacred deities or energies of the five elements for a balanced world,” shares Kularts founder Alleluia Panis.
Fire Deity mural design by Cece Carpio
Another component to the project is the ephemeral street art created by world renowned muralists and artists Cece Carpio, Nikila Badua, Dee Jae Pa'este, Paolo Salazar, and Mel Vera Cruz. They will design and paint images of Mga Diwatas/Deities of Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Transcendence. The murals will be on view at Bonifacio Street and Lapu Lapu Street starting October 25th, until it all fades away.
In total, over 35 artists and cultural practitioners are involved in the project. Choreographed and Directed by Alleluia Panis with participating dance artists, music by Rachel Lastimosa. Costume by June Arellano.
The general public can participate in the ritual by submitting their intentions or wishes to be added to the ‘prayer flags’ that will be tied to the boats. The project encourages people at home to make their own mandalas to be posted on Kularts website, and to take the self guided mural tour. For more information visit www.kularts-sf.org/lakbai-diwa.
Lakbai Diwa, Diasporic Spirit is a year-long multidisciplinary project generously funded by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Open Spaces Program, and co-presented by the Filipino American Development Foundation.
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Event Summary:
Cultural Ceremony Ritual
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3-3:20pm
Location: Yerba Buena Gardens
Date: Sunday, October 25
Time: 3-3:20pm
Location: Sunday Streets Undiscovered SF Pop up
Streets of Diwata Murals
Location: Lapu Lapu St. and Bonifacio St.
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2020 until it fades away
About Kularts:
Founded in 1985, Kulintang Arts, Inc., now known popularly as Kularts, is the premier presenter of contemporary and tribal Pilipino arts in the United States. Through our three decades of service, Kularts has grown into a leading elder arts organization, uniting generations of artists and community activists in a common effort to build a collective space and sense of belonging within our city, specifically the SOMA Pilipinas: Filipino Cultural Heritage District. Kularts creates work that makes visible the contributions of Pilipino Americans and creates room for cultural continuity and knowledge.
About Filipino American Development Foundation:
The Filipino-American Development Foundation (FADF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997, and exists to strengthen the social, physical, and economic well being of the Filipino American community and the South of Market community with special attention to the underserved segments of the community.