by: Arianne Angela Solis

As the new school year starts to kick in, UM-Sigaw, the recognized Filipino student organization at the University of Manitoba, welcomes every student with a bang. The organization, which started their activities early this year, is going to have its first major event entitled, “Halo-Halo Special.”

Based from the popular Filipino dessert, “Halo-Halo Special” is a variety show-concert which will feature Filipino talents within the city. Bands, solo singers and dancers will be performing to showcase their exceptional talents. The show will be a mix, a “Halo-Halo” of their abilities, which the organization believes, will best represent how talented Filipinos are.
Aside from tapping the pool of Filipino talents here in the city, the concert also aims to reach out to our fellow Filipinos back in the Philippines who are in need. UM-Sigaw decided to have a benefit organization for the concert, and they have chosen the Divine Mercy - Tarlac Chapter, in which one of their main goals is to help the needy within the province of Tarlac. As to why UM-Sigaw chose to have a benefit for this concert, Joann Correa, UM-Sigaw’s secretary, replies, “we feel that giving a part of the profit to those who need it would make the project more meaningful for every member of the group.”

“This is UM-Sigaw’s first attempt to manage a major event, and we wanted it to be a success, not only within the campus, but also within the Filipino community,” Sybil Abarientos, UM-Sigaw’s PR Coordinator and the concert’s core committee head stated during one of the organization’s major meetings “This is our way to excite the Filipino community here in the UofM - to be active again and to be visible. Also, there are a lot of Filipino freshmen this school year. We are welcoming them with this concert,” Joann added.

“Halo-Halo Special” is going to be held at September 29, 2007 at the Manitoba Room 210, University Centre, University of Manitoba. For ticket information, please email umsigaw@gmail.com.