Diwang Pinay ("Spirit of the Filipina")

Ten years ago, “Diwang Pinay” (Spirit of the Filipina) was born. The first visual and performing arts showcase of its kind, Diwang Pinay was organized by a group of Pinays from the League of Filipino Students at San Francisco State University. Since then, the legacy and gravity of this event has continued as generations of Filipinas have realized that in the midst of trials and tribulations, Filipino women always emerge triumphant and, more importantly, beautiful. With the idea of putting Filipino women’s struggles and talents at the center, the first Diwang Pinay provided a space for Filipinas to share their stories, honor their struggles, and engage with their community. Through art, poetry, music, movement and theater, Diwang Pinay has become a hallmark event in the San Francisco/Bay Area. Its significance, however, could not be contained as Filipinas in other parts of the U.S., namely Los Angeles, Seattle and New York City, also carry the namesake of Diwang Pinay. From the young pinay MC Ruby Ibarra, to the delightful children from the local San Francisco Filipino school, Galing Bata, to our cha cha dancing nanays and lolas from SAMAKA, Diwang Pinay is an inter-generational space that welcomes people of all gender identities, ethnicities, and walks of life and brings them together to celebrate the essence and the spirit of the Filipina. Each year has proven to be momentous, as it has highlighted important political issues like domestic violence, motherhood, and immigration. This year, the iVOW to fight VAW (Violence Against Women) campaign has been given a platform, advocating the need to stand up and tackle all forms of violence against women in our communities. Throughout the years, Diwang Pinay has also paid tribute to the arduous but loving work of mothers, sisters, lolas, and titas - all warriors of womanhood. Diwang Pinay is back with ferocity in 2012 as we celebrate its tenth year anniversary! The longest running event for Pinays, by Pinays - join Babae-San Francisco and The League of Filipino Students (LFS) as we present Kilos Kababaihan: Hearts Beating with the Movement on Sunday, December 9, 2012 from 6 to 9 p.m. at theWomen’s Building in San Francisco. This year, Diwang Pinay is honored to present a theater piece from the caregivers and workers of the Filipino Community Center and Gabriela-USA’s CARE Project, who will proudly launch Migrante-USA, a chapter of the international workers organization Migrante International. We cordially invite you to Diwang Pinay, and your presence as a community leader would be significant at our tenth year anniversary. We hope to you see you there! Please contact Melissa Reyes at (619)341-9699 or email her at melreyes88@gmail.com for tickets. Bring your friends, family and loved ones and be prepared to celebrate, be moved and come together as we call out: Kilos Kababaihan!