Universal Filipino - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Excerpts of a Hip Hop Theater Joint, “UNIVERSAL FILIPINO” Written and Performed by Kilusan Bautista
March 20th, 2010 @ Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, 478 Austin Place, 2nd fl. Bronx, NY 10455
Rituals begin at 8pm, doors open at 7:30 - $10; free for youth!
(A portion of the proceeds will go to our brothaz and sistaz in Haiti)

On March 20th, 2010, at the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, Bronx, NY, you are cordially invited to experience excerpts of a Hip Hop Theater Production entitled, “UNIVERSAL FILIPINO”. Written and performed by Kilusan Bautista, a Bay Area, CA raised and New York City based performance artist. Movement Direction by Jen Armas and Chelsea Gregory; Sound Design by DJ Soulcrates and special visual arts exhibition by Bianca Monet aka Araya.

“UNIVERSAL FILIPINO” cultivates the artistic aesthetics of Hip Hop Theater, Spoken Word Poetry, Emceeing and Interpretive Movement to offer a creative and cutting edge presentation. There is a battle underway deep within our minds and souls. “UNIVERSAL FILIPINO” is a new solo Hip Hop Theater production that brings to life the internal battles for Americanized children of immigrant parents. During his youth, Kilusan is haunted by a historic hater who wishes to destroy his self-esteem by influencing him into a helpless, violent and psychologically troubled state of existence. Malakas is an ancestral guardian spirit who exists to guide Kilusan in remembering his true self worth and connection to his people. It is now up to Kilusan to make the right choices as a youth of color in urban, working class America. Shall he fall victim to the statistics of growing up in a “high risk” environment, polluted with drugs, violence and crime? Or shall Kilusan find his Destiny and live a life that possesses knowledge of self?

Set within the 1980’s and 1990’s, Bay Area, CA, “UNIVERSAL FILIPINO” will take audiences on a journey of struggle and redemption. The challenge for youth of color in America is not just black and white. The stories for Americanized, so called “2nd generation”, children of immigrant parents are continuing to surface as a reminder of the need to balance, validate and make sense of all the cultural world’s represented in one’s identity.

Are you ready to experience a thought provoking, ‘Edu-tainment’ reality that brings you closer to the universal family living room?

Jeremy Tagle Bautista aka KILUSAN received his Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2002. He has toured nationally with artist collectives such as 8th Wonder, Colored Ink and as a solo performance artist. For over 3 years, Jeremy taught Hip Hop Theater classes with Destiny Arts Center in Oakland and at the Walden House, a Young Women’s Foster Care Facility in San Francisco. He represents a national violence prevention organization known as the United Playaz, where Jeremy uses arts education and community organizing to support disenfranchised communities. He currently teaches a Pre-GED class for young adults with the Brooklyn Public Library to improve literacy skills in New York City.


For more information please call 347/499-0554 or email: kilusan1898@yahoo.com