I recently found out that he was traveling back to the Philippines in order to film a documentary about his family. On his website, he blogs about this powerful experience which I can totally relate to. Check out one of Dante’s blog post which truly touched my heart:

Zambales & Pangasinan

Thanks brother Dante Basco for all of your support and especially for sharing your experience in the Philippines. I haven’t been back to the Philippines since 2006. Its time……

Brother Nonito Donaire is continuing to put in work as a professional boxer. This time around he has his own TV series to give the world a deeper insight into the life of the Filipino Flash. I hope the Urban Crazes community enjoys these episodes just as much as I do and feel free to leave a comment so that Nonito Donaire knows that you all got his back! Together we rise!

“TOY SOLDIERZ” TRAILER 2012 from Javier Reyes on Vimeo.

TOY SOLDIERZ, a multimedia production that combines hip hop, theatre, spoken word, music, dance and film has been scheduled for it’s east coast premiere May 4-6/11-13, 2012 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. TOY SOLDIERZ tells the true story of Devon Johnson, a 4.0 high school student, gunned down on his graduation day. While in a coma state, Devon struggles with the potential loss of his dreams while coming to grips with the person who shot him and learning how to forgive in the process. This special two-week performance will benefit two non-profit organizations, NUYORICAN POETS CAFE and URBAN HEALING TOUR.

Teen violence is a growing epidemic across the nation and young people are being incarcerated in record numbers. TOY SOLDIERZ tackles these issues head on — with heart, soul, artistry and wisdom. The Nuyorican Poets Cafe, a legendary non-profit community arts organization in Lower Manhattan, is providing the stage and facilities for this unique event.

DATES:
Fridays- May 4th &11th, 2012. 7pm
Saturdays- May 5th & 12th, 2012. 8pm
Sundays- May 6th & 13th, 2012. 3pm

Tickets can be purchased at: www.nuyorican.org

To schedule interviews with Javier Reyes, or for further information, please contact Kilusan Bautista, 347- 499- 0554

Visit our website “www.urbanhealingtour.com”

Also visit our Indie Go Go page to support our trip to NY

http://igg.me/p/84372?a=502453

Through personal experiences we can find the most honest and vulnerable wounds that are waiting to be treated in the racial emergency room of the American consciousness. Take a moment to slow down and feel the pulse known as UNIVERSAL SELF, an emerging solo theater production whose time has come. When we are able to gain deeper insight into the complex processes of how American youth make sense of the world and how childhood experiences shape our racial identity, we inevitably come closer to achieving racial unity and progress for multicultural America in the 21st century.

Set within the 1980’s and 90’s, Bay Area, California, UNIVERSAL SELF takes audiences on a journey of struggle and redemption. The challenge for American youth is not just black and white. The stories for Americanized children of immigrant parents are continuing to surface as a reminder of the need to balance, validate and make sense of all the cultural world’s represented in one’s identity. Written and performed by Kilusan Bautista, UNIVERSAL SELF is a nationally toured solo theater production formerly known as Universal Filipino. During his youth, Kilusan is haunted by a historic hater who wishes to destroy his self-esteem by influencing him into a helpless, violent and psychologically troubled state of existence. Malakas is an ancestral guardian spirit who exists to guide Kilusan in remembering his true self worth and connection to his people. It is now up to Kilusan to make the right choices as a youth in urban, working class America. Shall he fall victim to the statistics of growing up in a “high risk” environment, polluted with drugs, violence and crime? Or shall Kilusan find his destiny and live a life that possesses knowledge of self?

Are you ready to experience a thought provoking, Edu’tainment reality that brings you deeper into the universal family living room, a visionary space that embodies compassion and understanding? UNIVERSAL SELF will take you to a doorway into the future of multicultural America one story at a time.

For booking and inquiries of UNIVERSAL SELF please contact Lia McPherson, Booking Manager, via email at bookkilusan@gmail.com. The full length production runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes. We also offer a 30 minute excerpted version and interactive performance workshops centered on the themes of UNIVERSAL SELF. Kilusan is currently a teaching artist with the NYC Department of Education, where he teaches UNIVERSAL SELF as an elective course.

Universal Filipino from Justin Lee on Vimeo.

Created by Simón Adinia Hanukai, Naïma Kristel Phillips and the ensemble
Written by Naïma Kristel Phillips (MFA Playwriting Candidate, 2012)
Directed by Simón Adinia Hanukai (MFA Directing Candidate, 2012)

Three characters on the verge of breakdown get a look at themselves under the microscope, examining the shattered pieces of their broken lives. In this interactive promenade performance, the audience accompanies a selected character on their personal journey as their birthday world shatters and unveils their mythological DNA, offering audience members a glimpse into how broken individuals and societies can attempt to piece themselves back together.

GOLIATH begins by taking on a poetic theater approach where words are thrust into the canvass of the audiences mind at a rapid pace. I could not think, rather I had to allow myself to be absorbed in this form of storytelling. By the middle of the play I noticed a shift away from the poetic intensity and into more moments where theatrical techniques such as monologues or dialogues are more emphasized. Both worked because the actors engaged themselves in the commitment of their roles. I appreciated this artistic strategy because it encapsulated 8 years of the War in Iraq within a 45 minute presentation. Even though the play was written over 5 years ago, GOLIATH is sadly relevant today because of the recent withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. The lead character of David, was played remarkably well by Nabil Vinas. Mr. Vinas held the production together with his powerful stage presence and expansive ability to convey different emotional responses from start to finish. At times I felt sympathetic towards David and other times I hated his guts because of the decisions he made in the play. These are very realistic attitudes we all are confronted with because thousands of American soldiers are returning to civilian life due to the end of the War in Iraq.

Overall I believe that GOLIATH has a message that all Americans need to take to heart. Can the cost of war and violence really bring about genuine freedom and democracy? And how are we all going to respond to the post traumatic stress disorders of the legacies of war? One of the most powerful quotes that stuck to me from GOLIATH was said by David, “No one is innocent!” We all have a responsibility in supporting not just the American soldiers but also their families/ friends as well as the Iraqi people. I highly recommend the American Veteran Affairs Department to consider producing GOLIATH within rehabilitation centers throughout the nation. It is important for American soldiers to have opportunities to see a mirror of themselves but to also be supported in what to do with these horrific experiences of war.

In the real world we all can play the character of David or Goliath at different stages of our lives. The ending message of GOLIATH made me think that we all have the ability to change but that is a choice that may or may not be easily understood. How many more David’s will become Goliath’s in this world and how many more Goliath’s will become David’s?

For more information please visit: http://poetictheater.com/

From performances across the globe to international tours with mega R&B artist, Joe, Afaliah has had her glimpses of the limelight in its many incandes cent colors. Now the time has come for her to command a spotlight of her own. The singer/songwriter has recently premiered her highly anticipated music video for her single, “Ms. U” The song has received thumbs ‘all the way up’ from industry heavies and is poised to spark a big buzz this summer. Ms. U was produced by up and coming producers, Monkey Wrench popularly known as Fly Union. Monkey Wrench has recently worked with the Curren$y, the newest addition to Kanye’s GOOD Music roster, Big Sean as well as Los Angeles’ burgeoning emcee, Dom Kennedy. For more on Afaliah, check out:

WWW.TWITTER.COM/AFALIAH
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/AFALIAH

BOOK RELEASE CELEBRATION!
Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Hosted by: ButtaFlySoul
8PM: Guest performance by the cast of
The Male Ego: A New Masculinity

9PM: Book Presentation & Talkback Session with Iro

Colors – New York
417 Lafayette St. New York, N.Y.
6 – Astor Place
N,R – 8th Street
B,D,F,M – Broadway & Lafayette

No Entry Fee. Just bring a friend, or two!

DevelopMental Publishing
Contact: (914)330-1657