The Honolulu Museum of Art is turning its galleries into a celebration of Philippine heritage this Sunday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with bamboo dance performances, lantern-making and a visit from a storybook cat named Kumusta Pusa. The event, called Bayanihan: A Celebration of Philippine Culture in Hawaiʻi, is part of HoMA's monthly Community Sunday series and is presented alongside the Philippine Consulate General of Honolulu.
According to khon2.com, Philippine Consul General Arman Talbo is scheduled to open the festivities with remarks at 10 a.m. The Honolulu Museum of Art describes the day as a chance to make parols, meet Kumusta Pusa and watch contemporary tinikling dance. As with every Community Sunday, held on the third Sunday of each month, admission is free for Hawaiʻi residents with valid ID.
Keiki Crafts And A Lumpia Special
Families with young children have plenty to do beyond the performances. Keiki activities include parol making — the star-shaped decorative Christmas lantern tied to Filipino tradition — along with traditional games led by the FilCom Center, the station's report notes. Hungry visitors can also pick up a lumpia special at the HoMA Café, with a choice of vegetable or pork filling.
The dance portion of the day centers on tinikling, a bamboo folk dance, performed with a modern twist by Tekniqlingz, a Hawaiʻi nonprofit dance group known for blending traditional and modern Filipino folk dance, as reported by Hawaii News Now. Gabe Torno, an instructor with the group, told the outlet he has danced in the local community for almost 20 years and said Tekniqlingz is known for its traditional and modern tinikling, especially its hip-hop-infused version.
From Street-Style Roots To The Museum Floor
Tekniqlingz traces back to Gabe Torno, who formed the Tekniqlingz Dance Crew in mid-2008 and serves as its founder and executive director, according to the group's own account on Tekniqlingz's website. Its community workshops teach the basics of the bamboo dance while weaving in hip-hop and modern elements.
Alongside the dancing, attendees can meet Kumusta Pusa, a children's book character created by Marlon and Lora Rimando, per Hawaii News Now. Marlon Rimando, described by the outlet as a retired military physician and children's book author, created the Kumusta Pusa book series to help children in the Filipino diaspora connect with their heritage. He told the outlet he wanted to diversify children's books so kids could hear the language spoken by their lolas' lolas and learn about Filipino culture — noting that kumusta means how are you and pusa means cat.
A Project Built On Storytelling And Giving Books Away
Kumusta Pusa is described as a children's literacy and cultural storytelling project co-created by Dr. Marlon P. Rimando, according to Kumusta Pusa's own site. The project says it now includes four books and has donated more than 1,000 books, with a stated aim of promoting childhood literacy, emotional well-being and Filipino cultural connection for children and families. The book series introduces young readers to Filipino language, traditions, food, music, history and values, Hawaii News Now reports.
Sunday's Community Sunday will include performances by Tekniqlingz and other groups, folding dance, food and storytelling into a single afternoon at the museum. For Hawaiʻi residents looking to spend a free Sunday steeped in Philippine culture, HoMA's doors open at 10 a.m. and the celebration runs until 6 p.m.
