University of
the Philippines

What happens when ethnic Filipino music is shared between several generations? 

For two days at OCAD University, 70 Filipinos and Filipino Canadians—from 9-year-olds to participants in their 70s—came together to sing, make music, and rediscover the sounds and traditions that connect us to home.

On August 4 and 5, Echoes of Home: A Kulintang and Community Choir Project brought together 70 Filipinos and Filipino Canadians across generations for an experience filled with singing, music-making, cultural discovery, and plenty of bayanihan spirit. Participants explored Filipino folk songs, community singing, and the sounds of kulintang, discovering that these traditions aren't simply pieces of the past—they continue to live, evolve, and connect us across generations and borders.

Developed and led by Filipino ethnomusicologist and music educator André Lorenz Feria as part of the Ontario Community Changemakers program of 8 80 Cities, Echoes of Home was presented in partnership with the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto (UPAAT). The project brought together artists, educators, students, volunteers, and community organizations from Canada and the Philippines.

Adding richness to the experience was the participation of Prof. Anna Patricia Rodriguez-Carranza and members of the Junior Music Educators’ Guild (JMEG) of the University of the Philippines College of Music—Caleb Noroña, Kael Vicente, and Loudrie Lolarga. Alongside invited facilitators from Canada and the United States, they introduced participants to Filipino folk songs, community singing, and gong music traditions.

More than a music workshop, Echoes of Home became a space where generations could meet, learn from one another, and reconnect with culture through sound. For UPAAT, it was a wonderful expression of our commitment to Honor, Excellence and Service—and a reminder that culture becomes stronger when we share it.

The result? Two days of music, learning, friendship, and bayanihan—and perhaps a little more of home carried forward by everyone who took part.

Take a look at the photos and experience the spirit of Echoes of Home.