With its origins in the Vancouver Kali-Silat Association (VKSA), the history of the Southeast Asian Cultural Arts Festival (SEACAF) can be told through the fund-raising T-shirts that are available each year. This is a short background on the symbolism and the evolution of the SEACAF logo.
The SEACAF logo varies from year to year but maintains a common mix of elements that derive from Southeast Asia and the festival’s host country of Canada. The VKSA is/was a loosely knit organization of the original teachers who founded the early “joint training gatherings” in the 1990s, in particular guro Louie Lindo. The VKSA included those teaching Filipino, Indonesian, and other related arts. The goal was to bring together teachers and students of different systems to share their arts and build respect and appreciation between the schools and clubs.
After several years of very successful events, the gatherings ended – largely due to the demands of organizing for 150+ students and teachers. The VKSA itself was never formalized but through the 1990s and into the 2000s it represented the association of various teachers in mutual respect and support.
Fresh energy and youthful passion by guro Brent Matsuda brought the gatherings back. Having enjoyed and appreciated the early events, he wanted to see the local community gather once more – and so he organized a revival in 2008. The annual event was once again alive. SEACAF has since grown out of that revival and now encompasses other forms of cultural arts such as dance, music, performance, language, food, and costume, in recognition of the fact that the SE Asian martial arts are part of a broader social matrix typical of the region.
To commemorate those events, T-shirts were printed to help pay for park permits, food for the potluck, and other costs that were being borne by the various members of the VKSA. They were initially printed with the logo of the VKSA which referenced the influences of Indonesia and the Philippines. These elements symbolize the merging of Southeast Asian cultural arts and community that SEACAF is about.
Original logo of the VKSA (circa 2000)
used at SEACAF 2008/2009
Garuda
The Garuda is a mythical birdlike creature, native to Southeast Asia and India. In Indonesia, where it is also the national emblem, it takes on a shape similar to the Javan Hawk-eagle. The Garuda appears in stories often to teach the virtue of knowledge, power, bravery loyalty and discipline. It became the national symbol of Indonesia in 1950 and is depicted with seventeen feathers on its wings, eight talons, nineteen tail feathers and forty-five neck feathers, showing the date (17/8/1945) of Indonesian Independence.
Logo of SEACAF 2010
Kris/Kalis
The kris (Indonesia) of Kalis (Philippines) is a dagger, often with a distinctive wavy blade with a dual martial/spiritual purpose. They were often carried into battle as a back-up weapon, and were commonly carried in daily life by both men and women for the purpose of self defence. The kris was also part of ceremonial dress, and bladesmiths would, through ritual, give the knife powers that effect its owners luck. Because of this, having good harmony between the owner and the blade was considered very important.
Logo of SEACAF 2011
The Filipino Sun
A golden yellow sun with eight primary rays, which represent the country’s first group of provinces that started the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spain.
Logo of SEACAF 2012
Ka
Central to each of these designs) from the traditional Tagalog Baybayin script, Ka is the beginning of numerous related words including “kali”, “katipunan” (secret society involved in the Revolution), and “kalis”. And appears in many of the historical flags, symbolic of Filipino pride, strength and the revolution.
Logo of SEACAF 2013 – printed in gold on black or royal blue
The Maple Leaf
Symbol of Canada, the host country for those practicing the SE Asian arts in the Vancouver region.
Interested in having your own? This year’s shirt is available in royal blue and black, logo printed on the front, in both youth and adult sizes, in a heavy high-quality T-shirt. Cost is $20 for adult sizes and $15 for youths. They available in limited quantities – so reserve early!
Send email to info(at)monsoonSociety.org if you are interested in reserving. Otherwise, look for them at SEACAF 2013.