What is Katipunan?
Katipunan stands for Kapatiran ng mga Estudyanteng Nag-aaral ng Pilipino sa Unibersidad ng Hawai'i (Confraternity of students taking Filipino courses at the University of Hawai'i System). The name was inspired by the secret society founded by Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio during the Filipino-Spanish War in 1896. This society specifically used Filipino in their communications and rituals in order to promote their unity and identity.
Katipunan in the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM) was organized in the Fall of 1992 by Dr. Teresita Ramos and Dr. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo. The main intention for starting the club was to promote and preserve the Filipino Language and Philippine Culture in Hawai'i. In addition, the club serves as the resource center for the creation, preservation, and promotion of Filipino materials.
For more information, visit the Katipunan website at http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kati
Katipunan History
Milestones
1991
The Filipino and Philippine Literature Program launched the community Pabasa, the 24-hour non-stop chanting of the Pasyon (The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ) at the St. Theresas Co-Cathedral.
1992
First performance of Panunuluyan with PLCC (Philippine Languages and Culture Club) at the UH Campus Center, UH campus and at the Pasko (Filipino Christmas Project of the Filipino Association of University Women). Panunuluyan is a Filipino Christmas pageant commemorating Mary and Josephs search for an inn on Christmas Eve. In the Philippines, performers appearing as Mary and Joseph sing their way from house to house on Christmas Eve until they reach the church at midnight. The entrance of the performers in church signals the Misa de Aguinaldo or the midnight mass. In August, Katipunan, the Club, was organized. The first newsletter, Katipunan, was launched. It was a four-paged handout edited by Arlan Dangla.
1993
This semester signals the launching of the annual Katipunan Song Festival. This year, the Filipino Song Festival, entitled Paligsahan sa Pagkanta aims to make students of Filipino learn, appreciate and perform Filipino songs written and composed by Filipinos in Filipino. The first song festival took place on November 23. In December 1993, the Filipino and Philippine Literature Program have been invited to perform the Panunuluyan at the Waipahu Plantation Village. Dr. Ruth Mabanglo who wrote and directed the play also included the song and dance performance of the 1993 Paligsahan sa Pagkanta winners.
1994
The Katipunan Theater Desk was born. Cedric Lorenzo organized this group and had a series of performance at the University of Hawaii and the community. The theater group started as first prize winners in the Spring Drama Festival. The play Katipunan, written and directed by Cedric Lorenzo, doubled with 96819 Kalihi Valley (a skit that was inspired by the TV series) were performed at the Honolulu Hale on August 26, 1994 for the Youth Day. Later, several performances of Lam-Ang (based on the Ilocano epic) was done for the Childrens Day of the Schofield Barracks Library. The group also performed In the Still of the Night, a play about Filipino Creatures that go bump the night on October 29, 1994 at the Waipahu Plantation Village. This play had multiple performance. The group also performace Panunuluyan at the Waipahu Plantation Village on December 16, 1994.
1995
Operation Tulong was launched by Katipunan to help the victims of typhoon Angela (Rosing) that killed 600 people in the Philippines. Katipunan collected canned goods, old clothes and blankets that were sent to Manila thru the Philippine Consulate General in November.
1996
Katipunan students protest for the case of Sarah Balabagan during the arrival of President Fidel Ramos in October. Sarah Balabagan was a Filipina maid in the United Arab Emirates who raped by her employer. She killed her employer and although the rape was proven to be caused of the homicide, she languished in prison. At this time, she was to be executed. Some Katipunan members with the help of a womens group, decided to alert the Philippine president of their concern through this protest. The Katipunan newsletter became a magazine in the fall of this year. In cooperation with Pagdiriwang 96 (a celebration of the centennial of Philippine Revolution and the 85th anniversary of Filipinos arrival in Hawaii), Katipunan launched a Filipino Film Festival. It showed some classical films here and in the neighbor islands.
1997
In the summer of this year, the Filipino and Philippine Literature Program and Katipunan sponsored the community performance of Katipunan: The Cry for Freedom, a full-length drama about Katipunan, the revolutionary society founded by Andres Bonifacio. The play was written by Bonifacio Ilagan and directed by Boots Pascual. It was performed at Leeward Community College and at Campus Center Ballroom. In Fall 1997, the Filipino and Philippine Literature Program opened a Tagalog 101 course in HITS (Hawaii Interactive Television). The course was discontinued due to high cost.
1998
In Spring, the Katipunan co-sponsored the UH and Hawaii community literary readings of F. Sionil Jose, a top Filipino novelist in English. In the Fall, Katipunan co-sponsored with the Filipino American Historical Society of Hawaii (FAHSOH) the presentation of Filipino historical films accompanied by lectures of Grace Mateo. Included in the films were Sakay, Pasong Tirad and Dapitan. The Songfest was dedicated to the centennial celebration (100 years of Philippine independence with a non-competetive performance of Lupang Tinubuan, an all-classes participation of nationalistic Filipino songs. The first issue of the Katipunan Literary Journal was launched on November 9, 1998. Funded by the Presidential Diversity Grant, the issue featured works of Katipunan members published in the Katipunan Magazine and the literary works of Filipino/Filipino American writers in Hawaii.
1999
Katipunan Members displayed literary talents at the literary musical presentations of ASUH at the campus Center Ballroom. The performers included Troi Orias and Joey Manahan and adviser Ruth Elynia Mabanglo. The Pop Group of Clark Cuadro performed breakdance at the Pasko , Honolulu Academy of Art, November 21. Katipunan sponsored with the Philippine Consulate Talinghaga: Philippine Literary Night, poetry readings in 6 Philippine Languages in Hawaii (that included English, Filipino, Ibanag, Ilocano, Ilonggo and Filipino Pidgin on December 3, 1999. Eric Gamalinda, was a Filipino novelist and poet in English visiting from New York.
2002
2002 marks the 10 year of existence of Katipunan. In celebration of the 10 year anniversary, the 2002 Katipunan Conference "Rediscovering Filipino Identity" was done.
Highlights
Presidents:
Fall 1992: Arlan Dangla
Spring 1993: Gener Macaraeg
Fall 1993 - Spring 1994: Terimel de la Cruz
Fall 1994 - Spring 1995: Michelle Baldueza
Fall 1995 - Spring 1996: Czarina Tabila
Fall 1996: Roy Macaraeg
Spring 1997: Julius Tigno
Fall 1997 - Spring 1998: Estelle Ana
Fall 1998 - Spring 1999: Clark Cuadro
Fall 1999 - Spring 2000: Wilcel Cuadro
Fall 2000 - Spring 2001: Chris Jurado
Fall 2001 - Spring 2002: Aeza Bolo
Fall 2002 - Spring 2003: Jeffrey Manlutac
Editors of the Magazine:
Fall 1992: Arlan Dangla
Spring 1993: Flory Umayam
Fall 1993 - Spring 1994: Gigi Villanueva
Fall 1994 - Spring 1995: Joy Joji Cristobal
Fall 1995: Joji Cristobal/Imelda Reyes/Czarina Tabilas
Spring 1996: Imelda Reyes
Fall 1996 - Spring 1997: Julius Tigno
Fall 1997: Cheryl Piedad
Spring 1998: Neil Romabiles
Fall 1998: Arthur Bagabag
Spring 1999 - Fall 1999: Romella Javillo
Spring 2000: Fe Castillo
Fall 2000 - Spring 2001: Claire Bautista
Fall 2001, Spring 2002, Fall 2002: Leilani Marquez
