Meet the artists in Kapitbahay, a series of profiles of Filipino Calgarians

June is Filipino Heritage Month and to celebrate, CBC Calgary is highlighting the rich heritage and contributions of Filipino Calgarians. To continue the Kapitbahay: Meet your Filipino neighbours campaign, we introduce you to the artists — Rick Cruz, Ryan De Guzman, Gladzy Kei and Brandon Lorenzo.

Answers have been edited for length and clarity

• Meet the artists behind Kapitbahay, a series of profiles of Filipino Calgarians
• Meet the next generation of Filipinos in Kapitbahay, a series of profiles of Filipino Calgarians
• Meet the cultural champions in Kapitbahay, a series of profiles of Filipino Calgarians
• Meet the community connectors in Kapitbahay, a series of profiles of Filipino Calgarians

Rick Cruz, DJ and instructor

As a second generation Filipino, I'm proud to carry on a lot of the characteristics and traditions of first generation Filipino culture. I'm proud of the way we wear it and shine being Filipino while living in North America. From the way we dress to the way we talk and especially our expression in the arts — for me, through DJing and being a part of hip-hop culture. There are many Filipino DJs, b-boys, rap artists and singers who are some of the best in the world, and being a part of that community is inspiring.

CBC Calgary: What aspect of your Filipino culture inspires you to do the work you do?

Cruz: Mostly it's seeing other Filipinos around the world do big things: dancers like the Jabbawockeez, DJs like Q-Bert, artists like P-Lo and Manila Grey. Even seeing athletes like Manny Pacquaio rise to the top. Growing up Filipino, we didn't really see a lot of people who looked like us reach high levels like these artists and athletes. And when you see it happen, It makes you want to reach just as high and share your own craft to the world as well.

CBC Calgary: What do you see as the biggest challenges for your community to overcome as it continues to grow in our city?

Cruz: I think one of the biggest challenges I see may be for the music artists. There are a lot of artists in our city pushing their music with dreams of breaking out and really making it. I think it's tough to be heard coming from a city like Calgary in general, but I feel like it's almost especially more difficult to break through being a music artist of Filipino descent. I think it will also be challenging when faced with decisions whether to preserve and promote Filipino culture in their music or try to blend in with the pack.

Ryan De Guzman, rapper and youth mentor

I am a second generation Filipino. My parents immigrated to Canada in the '80s and then had me and my sister. They taught us how to speak and write Tagalog before we learned how to speak English. 

I have been teaching workshops and working with youth using hip-hop arts full-time for the last five years. I love it because being able to share knowledge of hip-hop arts with youth and watching them take it and run is very rewarding and inspiring for me. The fact that I can use my art passion for this purpose and possibly help a kid strengthen their mental health is a blessing. And it goes hand in hand with the art of rap.

CBC Calgary: What would you say defines you as a Calgary Filipino?

De Guzman: Knowing my native tongue, the food I love eating, being proud of the struggles and revolutions that took place in the Philippines's past in order for me to be here now, and my perspective of the world.

CBC Calgary: What aspect of your Filipino culture inspires you to do the work you do?

De Guzman: The history of revolution in our culture. Standing up to oppression to represent ourselves. And learning today how my actions/mentalities have been shaped by the culture's past. Learning how deep colonial mindsets were ingrained and having the knowledge to challenge it and reclaim ideas.

Gladzy Kei, concept artist, sculptor and cosplayer

I grew up in the Philippines, and immigrated to Canada with my parents when I was 18 years old. I'm proud to be Filipina because I am able to share my culture with others, like our delicious food, our warm hospitality and never ending source of laughter and positivity.

I'm a concept artist, sculptor and cosplayer in Calgary. I've been practising my professional artistic career for more than five years. I believe that being a Calgary Filipina is being able to embrace both the Calgarian culture and the Filipino culture at the same time. I absolutely love the growing arts and culture in Calgary, and I hope to be able to contribute with that while also experiencing my own artistic growth. 

CBC Calgary: What aspect of your Filipina culture inspires you to do the work you do?

Kei: I am definitely inspired by the "togetherness" of Filipinos, as we love doing collaborations in order to create beautiful things. I'm also heavily inspired by food. We love getting together so we can eat, chat and do fun things in general while we work on our projects.

CBC Calgary: What do you see as the biggest challenge and biggest hope  for your community as it continues to grow in our city?

Kei: The biggest challenge right now, in my opinion, is getting more opportunities to represent our culture through the arts. I'm hoping we get to see more public art in the city that would represent our culture in a fun, colourful and creative manner. My biggest hope for us is to have more opportunities to connect, and also to pass down our culture to the future generation so it would not be forgotten.

Brandon Lorenzo, country singer 

I am a third generation Filipino. My grandparents and dad moved from the Philippines and started their family here. As a country singer, I believe I am defined by my heritage. I embrace my last name of Lorenzo as my name and stand out as one of the only Filipino country singers within the Alberta country music scene."

CBC Calgary: Why are you proud to be Filipino?

Lorenzo: I am proud to be Filipino because I get to represent the culture of the Philippines in the country music industry. As the only Alberta country singer with Filipino heritage, I am proud and I can act as somewhat of an ambassador for other Filipinos.

CBC Calgary: What's the best little known fact about the Filipino Calgary community that most people don't realize?

Lorenzo: I think the size of the community is the biggest. Most probably don't realize how big it actually is and would be surprised how big and diverse the Filipino community is as a whole.

Follow #FilipinoHeritageMonth on Instagram for content throughout the month.