Special Projects

IP periodically undertakes special events and activities beyond its annual programs.  These include:

• Public Performances – The IP Rondalla regularly performs at colleges, folk festivals, galas and Filipino American events throughout the Northeast United States, representing Filipino culture at multi-cultural events, raising awareness of Filipino-Americans and the Philippines, and bringing the nostalgia of familiar folk music from the homeland to Filipino expatriates.  These performances provide students with an opportunity to perform outside of the immediate IP community, while also raising public awareness of the Filipino community and culture.
• Anniversary Shows – IP Anniversary shows take place every five years and provide students the opportunity to participate in a full production at least once during their enrollment in IP.  IP’s tradition of celebrating five-year milestones with an extravaganza of Pilipino cultural presentation has produced the following:
  • 10th anniversary – “Pista sa Nayon”
  • 15th anniversary – “Binhi at Sibol”
  • 20th anniversary – ” Baro’t Sayaw”
  • 25th anniversary – “Katuwaan!”
  • 30th anniversary – “Tayo Na Sa Antipolo”
  • 35th anniversary – “Hale Hale Hoy!”
  • 40th anniversary – “#IP40”
• Rondalla Tours – In addition to local and regional performances, the IP Rondalla periodically goes on concert tours and trips.   These tours not only promote the art of rondalla, but also provide the Rondalla members with an opportunity to act as ambassadors for IP and interact with Filipinos in the Philippines and Europe.  The tours and trips have included:
  • 1990 First Concert Tour of the Philippines
  • 1994 European Concert Tour
  • 1998 Second Concert Tour of the Philippines
  • 2004 First International Rondalla Festival, Bicol, Philippines
  • 2006 European Concert Tour
  • 2013 Third Concert Tour of the Philippines
• Iskwelahang Pilipino’s ALAM is an adult education program for second generation Filipino-Americans in New England. The mission is to share aspects of the Filipino culture in a workshop setting. The pilot program called, Kwentong Kaldero (‘stories from the pot’), is a hands-on cooking class to showcase our culinary heritage. Our workshops are offered to adults,18 years and older. In 2019, the classes featured the trifecta of Filipino Foods: Adobo, Lumpia and Pancit (imagine learning three of 50 versions of pancit in just the Pancit workshop?). Each session starts with a short conversation on the provenance of each recipe. It ends up with packing “take out” containers with the dishes they just cooked. Due to a successful following, the second season, called “EAT LIKE A LOCAL” sold out to repeat budding chefs, their friends and families.