Salo-salo in NYC

Written by: Jazz Digao

Pork barbeque, laing, merienda. Live music and games under the heat and wind of an NYC summer day. Welcome to Tagalikha’s first ever in-person gathering. And of course, there was dancing.

The Tagalikha Team

I joined the Tagalika team in late 2020 as the team was focusing on its rebrand in the middle of the pandemic. The needs of the Filipinx creative community had changed and we wanted to ensure that the platform served these needs. We knew the community of creatives resonating with the team’s mission have grown over the last few years, and we let this growth guide us as we refocused our strategy into more specific core values. Specifically, how can we build a community space for Filipinos to talk about our creativity and identity? How can we facilitate a space that people across the world could connect and talk about their experiences, their creative expression, and their stories?

I love being involved in a community that aligned with my values of the appreciation of Philippine culture, especially when we were all indoors. Tagalikha for me was a safe space at a time of so much uncertainty and discrimination against Asians in the US. Despite the relevance and timeliness of topics such as nationhood and the diaspora, it seemed superficial to discuss these concepts while a pandemic was ongoing worldwide. I knew how lucky I was to live in the States, because my health and safety depended on where I was geographically located in the world. I valued being able to be part of Tagalikha, which has been able to create online spaces of creative discussion and community through social media and online workshops. Being part of the group was a blessing amidst the confusing times.

After a few events over the last year and a half, the team’s dream of hosting an in-person seemed more viable. Now that travel is back and public gatherings are allowed, we wanted to start the summer with a salo-salo to meet the community members and have them experience what Tagalikha is all about.

The question then was, how can we translate an online community into an in-person gathering?

“What helps you connect to your cultural roots?” poster (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

The Gathering

We already knew we wanted the vibe to be casual, sunny, and welcoming, we just needed to find the actual space to host it at. We visited three options but eventually picked a chic backyard space by Ozone Park (border of Brooklyn and Queens). We wanted an accessible and welcoming space that would reflect the creativity of the community. We really liked the open area and what we could do with it. The hosts were incredibly welcoming and accommodating, and it was only half a block away from the train!

As Loisse and I started planning the event, we wanted to make sure that community members felt welcome, seen, and involved in the gathering. We wanted to combine the feel of a Filipino party - the live music and delicious Pinoy food - with the safe space of the creative community that Tagalikha prides itself in facilitating. We invited Zekie, an up-and-coming Filipino musician, to serenade us with his music. We ordered food from Tito Rad’s Grill, a staple Filipino restaurant that specializes in authentic Filipino dishes (just like how lola used to make it). We also created a riso-printed Summer Salo-Salo poster, printed at Roller Ink Riso, co-owned by one of our own, Kenisha Rullan. Attendees could take the poster home as a memento.

Zekie serenading his fellow creatives (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

Riso prints and the samples (Photo: Loisse Ledres)

Filipino fiesta (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

We made the venue our own by creating moments of reflection throughout the space. We put up posters all over and provided stickers to create interaction. Some of them were quotes from previous Tagalikha discussions, and some were questions to get to know the community members. There was also a canvas where people could paint together - a live visual collaboration!

Canvas for live collaboration: Before (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

Canvas for live collaboration: After (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

Poster Questions (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

Reflections

It was magical to me to see the community gather and experience how Filipino creatives can be in a space where they felt safe and seen. Our initial expectation was that maybe 20 people would sign up, with half of those being the core team and our close friends. We were pleasantly surprised at the turnout on the day of the event, and the gathering felt like a full-on fiesta. The core team just laid out the decorations, but the attendees made the party what it was - authentic, inspirational, and community-led.

Friends helping us set up the space (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

Salo-salo is a Filipino term that translates to feast, banquet, party, or reception (Food Philippines). (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

Loisse and I were adamant about making sure we created this safe space for everyone else. But we were surprised by the energy and support from everyone who said they’d like to take on the responsibility, too. Adrienne Galvez volunteered her photography and talent for capturing community moments and the fabulous outfits of the attendees. Close friends came early and stepped right up to set up the space with us, no questions asked.

The Pinoy snacks were gone even before the party ended (Photo: Adrienne Galvez)

We started the party with name tags that displayed people’s creative practices and hobbies. Since traditional Filipino parties tend to make creatives feel interrogated with how they made money from the art that they do, I was happy that we didn’t need to prove that here. Guests introduced themselves through their creative expressions and shared their hobbies without pressure. We know each other’s struggles and wins, and it was amazing to see the light that shines when people are allowed to be who they are.

Of course, the party ended with attendees taking over the music and everyone on the dance floor. After all, what’s a Filipino party without a line dance?

This salo-salo is just the first of what we hope will be continued gatherings over the next few years. If this event inspired people to meet and create together, then we know that we were successful.