Black Box Presents: MAKIBAKA
In Partnership with Anakbayan Philadelphia
Friday, October 24, 2025, FREE Doors at 6PM
MAKIBAKA — Finding the Joys in the Struggles for Change
October is Filipino American History Month, and in celebration, we want to uplift Filipino migrants and migrant workers who come to America in order to support their families back home. From family separation to worker exploitation, they continue to fight through the struggle! Makibaka means dare to struggle, and through this art show, we highlight the courage, bravery, and power it takes to face struggle and continue to push forward.
We continue the legacy of Larry Itliong and the Manong farmworkers who achieved the victory of farm laborers in the Delano Grape Strikes by highlighting the modern fight for rights and welfare of Filipino migrants! Anakbayan Philadelphia is a part of the Tanggol Migrante Movement, a national and local alliance aiming to fight for Filipino migrants and migrant workers, and we present this art show as a love letter to the Filipino migrants of Philadelphia.
A major issue the organization recognizes is the need to defend Filipino migrants and migrant workers under the growing fascist administration in the United States. Anakbayan Philadelphia is waging the Defend Migrants campaign in response to the criminalization and wrongful detainment of Filipinos across the nation and choose to celebrate the contributions Filipino migrants have made in America. As Filipino youth and students in Philadelphia and in America, we accept our role and responsibilities in educating and raising awareness to the issues of Filipino workers and migrants.
About Anakbayan
Anakbayan Philadelphia is a youth and student-led comprehensive mass organization to advance National Democracy (ND) in the Philippines. The local city chapter contributes to the international ND mass movement by utilizing art, education, and community integration to raise the issues of the Philippines to the issues overseas, especially in Philadelphia.
About Black Box Presents
Made possible through lead support by the William Penn Foundation, Black Box Presents is a yearlong series transforming our Black Box Performance Theater into a platform for 12 community arts organizations, each curating their own monthly event. This initiative amplifies experimental music, dance, film, and spoken word while ensuring free, accessible programming that strengthens Philadelphia’s creative networks.