$10k scholarship fund for Filipino music & arts group

The Seven Oaks Education Foundation (SOEF) Inc. approved a scholarship fund for the benefit of students in the Seven Oaks area in their February 15, 2023, board meeting.

The SOEF received a total of $7,014.29 in donations and proceeds from a fundraising event on October 29, 2022.

The foundation resolved that “the SOEF top up the donations with $2,985.71 and, together with the $7,014.29 received, transfer $10,000 to the Winnipeg Foundation to establish the FMAACI-SOEF Music & Arts Leadership Scholarship Fund that will live in perpetuity.”

The scholarship fundraiser last year, dubbed ISKOLAR: Music and Arts Night, was initiated by the Filipino Music and Arts Association of Canada Inc. (FMAACI) in support of the efforts of the SOEF for more scholarships and bursaries for graduating high school students each year. It was held at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre (SOPAC), at Garden City Collegiate.

FMAACI president, Ernesto Ofiaza Jr., opened the concert with welcoming remarks by SOEF’s president Irv Simmonds. The event was emceed by Love MJ.

The SOEF is an organization dedicated to providing the students of Seven Oaks School Division access to post-secondary education.

FMAACI is a federally registered non-profit organization that was founded in August of 2014. The association has served more than 250 local musicians and budding artists and conducted various music and arts programs including: the Filipino Folk Music Festival, Basic Song writing workshops, painting workshops, Rhythms for Peace, multi-cultural events, basic theatre workshops, ukulele workshops, and dance exercise workshops for older adults and youth under the Healthy Together Now program of the WRHA.

On June 30, 2023, FMAACI will spearhead a Multi-Cultural Gathering for Peace, Healing and Reconciliation with the Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba, Indigenous groups, and different cultural ethnicities in line with the yearly Filipino Heritage Month celebration.

Photos by Danny Roman

Acoustic Live in Winnipeg – main group performers, Jojo Yso, Patrick Mayuga, Rodel Olesco, Arnold Tongol, and Larry Velasco	ALIW Soloistas – Filipinos Karaoke singers Reggie Caburnay, Thess Bubayb and Elmer Aquino	Daniel Tabo-oy and Crisanto Aquino	DJ Feliciano – an alumnus of Garden City Collegiate	Yaryna Chepiha and Mariia Balieieva perform Hallelujah with FMAACI president Ernesto Ofiaza	Ernesto Ofiaza Jr. FMAACI presiden
Humous – an independent lo-fi alternative rock band that has released over 30 original songs	Jovelle Balani – singer-songwriter	Jun Isla, FMAACI Treasurer sings Puff the Magic Dragon	Keri Latimer – a JUNO award winning singer songwriter and performs an original song with Paramjit Singh	Andy and Gabbie Empuwesto – a father-daughter duo known as Knight and Angel.	Levy Abad – author, songwriter, and recording artist
LoveMJ – emcee	The 12/21 – alumni of Maples Collegiate, they are newly signed artists of Black Sheep Records Manila and Viva Records Philippines. Roman, Rico, and Roque Maceda.