Manlilikha Arts and Music Festival Brings Filipino Creativity to Toronto to Raise Funds for Earthquake Relief in Mindanao
Workshop and concert tickets are available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/manlilikha-arts-festival
Day-long celebration of Filipino arts and culture culminates in a grand finale concert by the legendary Apo Hiking Society, with proceeds supporting Art Relief Mobile Kitchen
Likha Filipino Cultural Hub, in partnership with Adhika, presents the inaugural Manlilikha Arts and Music Festival on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the People’s Theatre for the Performing Arts (22 Esna Park Dr., Markham). The festival is a fundraiser for earthquake relief and rehabilitation in Mindanao, where thousands of families remain displaced and more than 8,000 damaged schools have disrupted the education of over four million students.
Named for the Filipino word for “creator,” Manlilikha gathers eight community organizations for a day of immersive workshops and cultural experiences from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Highlights include a screening of the historical film Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus, an interactive Arnis workshop, a Filipino food showcase, hilot and Cordillera jewelry-making workshops, storytelling and poetry writing sessions, and ukay-ukay thrift shopping. Daytime passes are $20 and include the film screening and access to all workshops.
The celebration culminates at 5:30 p.m. with “Heto nAPO sila sa Toronto!” — a grand finale concert by the legendary Apo Hiking Society, with special guests Leah Navarro, Kitchen Crew acapella group and Pantayo Kulintang ensemble. Proceeds will benefit Art Relief Mobile Kitchen (ARMK), a volunteer-powered non-profit founded by Filipino artists after Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. With more than 100 feeding missions and over 800,000 hot meals served across the Philippines, ARMK is now on the ground in Mindanao serving freshly cooked meals to families as they rebuild.
“Manlilikha is creativity in service of community,” said Paula Jacobs of Likha Filipino Cultural Hub. “Every ticket, every workshop, every song helps put hot meals in the hands of families rebuilding their lives in Mindanao.” The festival is expected to welcome 950 attendees and is supported by Kanto by Tita Flips, GMA Pinoy TV, and Rainbow Pharmasave, Sandy Cove Drugstore, and Out of the Blue Lifestyle Farm. Sponsorship and in-kind partnership opportunities are still available.
About Likha Filipino Cultural Hub
Likha is an organization in Ontario championing Filipino heritage and culture, creating spaces for the Filipino diaspora in Canada to connect through arts, education, and community.
Media Contact
Paula Jacobs, Likha Filipino Cultural Hub
+1 416 371 6225 | [email protected] | likha.ca | Instagram | Facebook
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