House of Gongs Joins UH Mānoa’s Center for Philippine Studies 50th Anniversary Celebration with “Dancing in the Diaspora: Currents”
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House of Gongs, a cultural organization dedicated to honoring tradition while fostering innovation through music, dance, and other art forms, proudly participates in Dancing in the Diaspora: Currents, a contemporary folk and kulintang music production presented by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Center for Philippine Studies in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
The large-scale production features collaborations among choreographers from the Philippines and the global Filipino diaspora, each contributing unique interpretations of identity, heritage, and movement. House of Gongs’ segment, titled Currents, is choreographed and directed by Lydia Querian with music direction by Ron Querian with their newly formed casted dance project, Isla Katao. This section explores the interconnectedness of Indigenous cultures across the Pacific through the lens of Filipino diasporic experience. Blending contemporary and traditional movement with kulintang-based compositions, Currents weaves together dance, ritual, and sound to tell a story of remembrance — honoring land, water, and ancestors while illuminating pathways toward collective healing and wholeness.
Costuming for Currents was designed by Elle Karayan designer Lydia Querian, integrating sustainability and cultural reverence at its core. In the spirit of honoring the cosmos and maintaining ecological integrity, Querian assembled the costumes from scrap textiles in her workshop and deadstock fabric, ensuring minimal environmental impact. Each piece carries embellishments inspired by the intersecting aesthetics of Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Filipino Indigenous traditions — including the symbolic use of ti leaves for protection and grounding. Accessories were hand-beaded in collaboration with partner artisan communities in the Philippines, bridging local and diasporic craftsmanship in a shared expression of cultural continuity.
At its heart, Dancing in the Diaspora: Currents honors shared Indigenous lifeways between the Philippines, Hawai‘i, and Polynesia. Through three movements — Likha ng Kalikasan (Creation of Nature), Ritual ng Bangsa (Ritual of Community), and Sandata ng Paghilom (Weapons of Healing) — the work traverses creation, colonization, and reclamation, culminating in a vision of unity and resilience.
“This is a historical moment for Hawai‘i,” says Lydia Querian, co-founder of House of Gongs and a descendant of Sakada laborers. “As a Sakada descendant, having this space and this voice through performing arts is a privilege we embrace and make the most out of. It’s a way to appreciate our Sakada ancestors who paved the way for us to be here.”
For Ron Querian, co-founder, music director and kulintang artist, the project also represents a deep cultural return:
“It’s beautiful to see how kulintang music is finally resonating in the islands. It flows naturally, as kulintang music is born out of archipelagic cultures.”
Featuring a cast of over 20 dance and music artists from Hawai‘i, the U.S. mainland, and Canada, the performance is a testament to diaspora and the possibility of reconnecting fragmented ancestral knowledge through art. It stands as both a tribute to the first generation of Filipino plantation workers in Hawai‘i and a declaration of continued presence and evolution.
House of Gongs’ participation marks another milestone in its mission to honor Indigenous Filipino traditions while fostering innovation through collaborative expressions of music, dance, and visual art. Following its successful FiliRooted: Sakada to Cypher concert featuring Ruby Ibarra and the Bakunawa Band, this collaboration continues the organization’s commitment to uplifting Filipino voices and deepening cultural dialogue across oceans.
Performances will be held at the Kennedy Theatre Mainstage on the following dates:
Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 pm (Pre-show chat at 6:45 pm)
Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2:00 pm
This is a ticketed event, with prices ranging from $9 to $25 depending on the category. Tickets are available here: https://hawaiiathletics.evenue.net/events/KT1
About House of Gongs
House of Gongs is a cultural organization based in San Francisco and Honolulu that honors Indigenous Filipino traditions while fostering innovation through music, dance, and other art forms. Through education, festivals, performances, and creative collaborations, House of Gongs bridges ancestral wisdom with contemporary expression — inspiring Filipinx/a/o artists to reclaim heritage as a source of healing, identity, and creative evolution.