2021's inspirational evening was hosted by Arnaldo! and Aleksa Manila.

Featured performances by Jogiel, Juliet Cheatle, and

Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State (FPAWS)

TOGETHER WE RAISED

$75,458

Funds raised will be used to deliver the culturally appropriate program services FCS is known for:
Senior Lunch and Food Bank, Youth Development, Social Arts and Culture, and many others.

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Event Hosts

Arnaldo!

Arnaldo! started as a soloist with the Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) and has performed with SMC in some of the major concert halls in the US, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. In 1999, Arnaldo! began his solo cabaret shows in Seattle’s Capitol Hill and has since performed his one person cabaret in Portland, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, New York and Manila. Arnaldo! has also collaborated with various directors, choreographers and songwriters in the Seattle area. In 2005, he completed the Cabaret Summer Conference Workshop at Yale University. In 2006, Arnaldo! started the Pacific Northwest Cabaret Association and continues to organize “Seattle's March is

Cabaret Month” featuring local and visiting artists. 2007 marked Arnaldo!’s New York cabaret debut and in 2008, Arnaldo! was honored with a New York Backstage Bistro Award. 2014 was Arnaldo!'s Manila debut where he received "Most Innovative Concert Artist" in Manila by Gawad Musika. In 2016, Arnaldo! was presented by The Filipino Community of Seattle with a Lifetime Achievement Award for promoting culture & the arts.

Aleksa Manila

Aleksa Manila is a chemical dependency counselor by day, drag diva by night. Aleksa Manila is a celebrated and respected drag personality. Originally from Manila, Philippines, she now calls Seattle, Washington home.

Over the years, she has been recognized for her community efforts in advocacy and social justice. In 2018, Aleksa was honored with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan's Pride Award for Outstanding Leader, Seattle Woman's Pride for Community Champion, the Filipino American Student Association at the University of Washington 100th Year

Anniversary Recognition as one of 100 Centennials in advancing Filipino Americans, and the GSBA (Greater Seattle Business Association) Humanitarian Honoree for Community Leadership. She was also honored with the prestigious Dr. Bob Wood Award for Excellence with HIV Prevention in 2013, and was Grand Marshal at the 40th Seattle Pride Parade in 2014 alongside her hero, Mr. George Takei.

In 2012, she founded Pride Asia whose mission is to celebrate, empower, and nurture the multi-cultural diversity of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer communities through the Asian Pacific Islander lens.

In her professional career, Aleksa when "not-in-face" is the Program Manager at Public Health - Seattle & King County focused on the sexual health of transgender women in King & Snohomish counties (National HIV Behavioral Surveillance); worked as Program Manager of the Immigrant, Refugee & Undocumented Outreach Program, Program Coordinator of Project NEON and Program Supervisor of Addition Services at Seattle Counseling Service where he dedicated 16 years in behavioral health and social service. He provides training and consultation with emphasis on LGBTQ cultural competency, harm reduction, addition and behavioral health from a social justice perspective.

Event Performers

Jogiel

Singer/songwriter from the province of Zamboanga del Norte, travelled across the country in search of a better life.

A comedian, a saleswoman, and a mom.

Life knocked her down several times but family, faith, and music keeps her feet on the ground.

Juliet Cheatle

Juliet Omli Cawas Cheatle, cultural consultant, choreographer and director, lecturer, and activist, has been honing her knowledge and expertise of indigenous dances and culture all throughout her professional life. She has been providing tutelage of Filipino culture and dance as an experienced performing artist. She travels far and wide, not only as a performing artist, but delivering lectures, conducting workshops, and providing training on indigenous dances of the Cordillera region, as well as other regions of the Philippines.

Born with Kalinga parents from Lubuagan and Pasil, Juliet’s artistic beginnings were mostly an observation and exposure with Kalinga dances, music, art and culture together with the mentorship of Kalinga’s master artist and historian, Cirilo Sapi Bawer. She also received formal instructions in Pilipino folk dances from her teacher, Ms. Asuncion Cardinal in St. Theresita’s School in Lubuagan.

Juliet is currently the director/choreographer of the Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State (FPAWS) and the dance instructor for the Filipino Community of Seattle Kalahi Dance Company. She doesn’t say much about all the experiences and credits she received as a performer, artistic director and choreographer. Juliet considers herself simply …… a teacher.

Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State (FPAWS)

The Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State (FPAWS) is a cultural group that nurtures awareness and appreciation of various Filipino cultures and traditions in the community, sustained by committed and professional cultural workers. Founded in 1993 under the name, Children of Fil-Am Dance Ensemble and later changed its name to The Filipinas Performing Arts of Washington State or FPAWS in September 2001. Under the direction of dancer / choreographer Juliet Omli Cawas Cheatle, the 15 and more members present a number of performances, lectures, and workshops each year in Washington State, other states, and in Canada. One of its goals is to collect, preserve, perform, and express in art forms the way of life of the Filipino people. FPAWS’ repertoire ranges from traditional dances to contemporary dances using music that are composed and recorded by local musicians here and in the Philippines.

2021 Gala Committee

Chair: Agnes Vining
Members: Agnes Navarro, Armilito Pangilinan, Delia Vita, Francis Franco, Emma Catague, Jaclyn Samson, Melanie Paredes & Germelyn Pasia