SamaSama Project
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Filipino Folk Fusion Music They also performed in Madrid, Spain for the Pope's World Youth Day MacroFestival Concert for over 12,000 youth.
SamaSama Project was launched as one of Chicago's premiere Filipino Folk Fusion band in 2008. “SamaSama” translated as “united, together” truly live up to their name creating a blend of Filipino folk, rock, ska, and Latin music, inspired by a 1970s musical movement called Manila Sound. Over the years, the talented group led by Baron Lloyd Cabalona, a versatile musician and arranger and wife, Lou Ella Rose,, a TV and musical theater actress in Asia and in the US have made their mark showcasing a fusion of Filipino traditional folk and contemporary music at many notable venues and events. SamaSama Project regularly performs around Illinois and other Midwest States notably at the Windy City Ribfest, Chicago Loop Alliance's ACTIVATE Series, Old Town School of Folk Music – World MusicWednesday Series, the Chicago Cultural Alliance's MOSAIC Fundraiser, Chicago Wildlife Conference, Bolingbrook Piyesta Pinoy, Morton Grove Festival of Cultures, Northbrook's Taste Of Asia. As one of the top bands in the Filipino American community in Chicago, SamaSama Project is highly sought after in providing great live band entertainment for weddings, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, debuts (18th birthday), holiday parties and corporate events. Inspired by the drive to promote diversity through music, SamaSama Project continue to captivate audiences with their unique sound that transcends all boundaries. Lou Ella Rose – Lead Vocals and Agung (ethnic)
Baron Cabalona – Drums, Bass Guitar, Kulintang (ethnic), and Musical Director
Ran Sevilla – Rhythm Guitar and Dabakan (ethnic)
John Kniker – Lead Guitar
EJ Luna – Bass Guitar
Giga Yanong - Saxophone
Session Guest Musicians
Jun Rodriguez- Saxophone
Freddie Rodriguez - Trumpets
Eddie Iriezzary - Trombone
09/21/2026
🎶 We're honored to be part of the 2026 Asian American Music Scholarship Festival!
Join The SamaSama Project as we present "The Great Filipino Songbook" as part of Evolving Traditions in the Diaspora, alongside an incredible lineup of artists celebrating the richness and diversity of Asian American music.
We're excited to share Filipino music, culture, and stories through performance—and we'd love to see you there!
📅 September 24, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Chicago
🎟️ Learn more: https://asianamericanmusic.org/fest2026/
See you at the festival! 🇵🇭🎶
Featuring / Collaborating with:
SamaSama Project Lou Ella Rose Music of Asian America Research Center
With:
09/10/2026
🀄🍸 Tiles, Tagays (Toasts), & Traditions
A Mahjong & Cocktails Experience Celebrating Filipino American History Month
Every culture has its unofficial gathering place. For many Asian families, it’s the mahjong table — where conversations flow, friendships grow, and connections are built one tile at a time.
Join us for an evening celebrating Filipino culture, community, and connection through mahjong, Filipino food, handcrafted cocktails, and meaningful conversations at Cebu Chicago.
Whether you grew up playing mahjong with your lola, you’re an experienced player, or you’ve never touched a tile before — you’re invited to take a seat at the table. Beginners will receive friendly instruction, while experienced players can jump right into open play.
✨ Guests Can Expect:
🀄 Mahjong lessons for beginners
🎴 Open play for experienced players
🍸 Handcrafted cocktails & mocktails
🍽️ Authentic Filipino food
🤝 Networking with professionals, entrepreneurs, and community builders
🇵🇭 A celebration of Filipino American History Month open to everyone
📅 Thursday, October 15, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Cebu Chicago
3120 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
🎟️ Tickets:
Early Bird: $65 (through September 15, 2026)
Regular Admission: $75
Space is limited — reserve your seat at the table today!
🎟️ Tickets: https://bit.ly/tiles1015
📩 Questions, sponsorships, or partnerships: [email protected]
Come for the tiles. Stay for the tagays. Leave with new connections. 🥂
We're still riding the high from Musika SamaSama Filipino Festival! ✨🎶 From SamaSama Project's live performance of The Great Filipino Songbook, to OPM from timeless classics to disco beats, delicious food, and the unforgettable Rising Stars Contest, it was a day filled with music, culture, and community. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this celebration so special!💃🕺
09/01/2026
🎉✨ MUSIKA SAMASAMA FILIPINO FESTIVAL 2026 — SALAMAT, SALAMAT, SALAMAT! ✨🎉
What an unforgettable afternoon at Eugene Field Park this past Saturday! Nearly 700 of you came out — and we felt every single one of you. The energy, the joy, the warmth. That's not something you manufacture. That's community, and you brought it in full.
This was our third year, and we can say with full hearts that MuSSFF 2026 was the most joyful, and most meaningful and most organized festival we've had yet. Not because everything was perfect — but because the people behind it were.
We want to take a moment to be honest with you. 2026 has been one of the most challenging years for SamaSama Project. We said a bittersweet goodbye to two of our longest-standing members — our saxophonist Giga, and our bassist EJ Luna — both stepping away to focus on family (which is always the priority). We also had to set aside our plans to record our first full-length album this year as we welcomed new musicians into the fold and found our footing again as a band. There were moments this year where we wondered what was next.
And then August 29th happened.
Standing on that stage — with Baron, Ran, John, Brian, and Jay — playing The Great Filipino Songbook for a park full of people who sang along, danced, and simply showed up — reminded us exactly why we do this. Filipino music deserves a stage. It always has. And this community keeps building one with us, year after year.
We are also deeply humbled to share that SamaSama Project received a Plaque of Recognition from the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, presented by Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano, recognizing our work in promoting and preserving Filipino musci and cultural heritage through MuSSFF , The Great Filipino Songbook and our work in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Establishment of PH-US Diplomatic Relations. We don't take this lightly. We carry it as a responsibility — to keep going, to keep preserving, to keep sharing. Salamat po. 🙏🇵🇭🇺🇸
The programming this year was something special — from the elegance of Filipino Classics , to the vibrant energy of Original Pilipino Music Now, to the DJ sets, to the Rising Stars Contest that reminded everyone in that park that there is so much undiscovered talent in this community. Over 100 of you voted for the People's Choice Award. The contestants were fearless. The judges were generous. And the winners — Hillford Dan Bacala (1st Place, $300), Joey Rabor (2nd Place, $150 + People's Choice!), and Zach, Lyza & Kurt (3rd Place, $50) — absolutely earned it.
We heard so many of you say how much you loved the pacing — the breathing room between sets, the diversity of music, the way it all flowed. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because of an extraordinary team of humans who gave their Saturdays — and honestly, their months — to make this day real.
Maraming, maraming salamat. 🙏
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🌟 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS 🌟
🥇 GOLD
BahaiDeals.com — thank you for championing Filipino talent and powering our Rising Stars Contest.
Philippine Airlines — mahal na mahal namin kayo. 🇵🇭✈️
🥈 SILVER
GMA Pinoy TV · SAAYSAAY LLC · Signature Events Designs · Art Drop Studios · Boondock Grill & Gather
🥉 BRONZE
Via Times Newsmagazine · Pinoy News · Kababayan Remit · Leilani Asian Fusion
🍱 FOOD SPONSORS
Kusina Ni Mars · Jireh's Best · Quin Quin's Pinoy Street Food
You kept our whole team fed and energized all day. 💛
💛 THE HEART OF THIS FESTIVAL 💛
FESTIVAL DIRECTION
James Mamuad — Festival Director
Jomari Rabor — Assistant Producer, Marketing/PR + Technology
Caitlyn Yambao — Assistant Producer, Vendors & Partners + Programming
Cess Guirnalda — Assistant Producer, Festival Logistics + Sponsorship
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT
Margaret Halquist — NOITP / Park District Liaison
Latasha White — Park Supervisor, Eugene Field Park
🎤 HOST & FESTIVAL DJ
Alpha Nicolasin — Festival Host / Emcee
Jake B. Side — Festival DJ
🎼 PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
Ginger Leopoldo & Anna Millan — Co-Leads
Baron Cabalona — Sound Tech Design Lead
Victor Assuncion — Segment 1 Lead
Lou Ella Rose — Segment 4 Lead
Jake B. Side — Music Transitions Lead
💰 SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
Lanie Rivas — Lead
Rezel De Oro — Assistant Lead
📣 MARKETING & PR COMMITTEE
Jannae Agena — Lead
Cess Guirnalda — Poster & Flyer Distribution
Carlo Hernandez — Social Media Marketing
💻 TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Carlo Hernandez — Lead
🛍️ VENDORS & PARTNERS COMMITTEE
Cindy Lopez — Retail & Business Vendors Lead
Richelle Tuazon — Food Vendors Lead
Michelle Delson — Partner Org Stations Lead
🎪 FESTIVAL LOGISTICS COMMITTEE
Oliver Aguilar · Abbey Ramos De Gracia · Zhar — Festival Decorations
Marlin — Volunteers Lead
🙌 VOLUNTEERS
Zach Fitzgerald · Isa Sargan · Jean Gavina · Indigo Field · Cheryl Bautista · Abby Scanlan · Mae Viado · Jerwyn Castillo · Patricia Damocles · Linus Franada · Sophia Azziz · Franz Judilla · Yvonne Hortillo · Aza Essentials · Albert Azaris · Matthew Magat · Sergio Acosta · Mikhail Alviar
🎵 PERFORMERS
SEGMENT 1: Classical Filipino Music
Musical Director: Victor Assuncion
Jared Esguerra — tenor
Alain Asis — 1st violin
Caitlin Yambao — 2nd violin
June Philippe Ong — viola
Raphael Marañon — cello
Larissa Mapua — viola
SEGMENT 2: Filipino Music Now
Little Miss Ann
Lou Astro
Hillford Dan Bacala
DJ Rex Balcita
SEGMENT 3: The Great Filipino Songbook
SamaSama Project
Lou Ella Rose — Lead Vocals
Baron Cabalona — Keyboards
Ran Sevilla — Rhythm Guitar
John Kniker — Lead Guitar
Brian Olamit — Drums
Jay Barba — Bass Guitar
🏆 SEGMENT 4: RISING STARS CONTEST
Presented by BahaiDeals.com
Judges:
Klarissa Inumerable
Abbey Kemph
Emilio Nicolasin
Contestants: Amanda Payne · William Baranda · Jay-r · Ivy Aguada · Akrun · Joey Rabor · Zach, Lyza & Kurt · Hillford Dan Bacala
🥇 1st Place — Hillford Dan Bacala — $300
🥈 2nd Place — Joey Rabor — $150
🥉 3rd Place — Zach, Lyza & Kurt $50
🏆 People's Choice — Joey Rabor
🌺 SPECIAL GUESTS
Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano — Philippine Consulate General, Chicago
Alderwoman Samantha Nugent — 39th Ward, Chicago
🍽️ FOOD VENDORS
Pinoy Grill · Now & Forever Cafe · Panaderia · Tastevuds · Quin-Quin Pinoy Street Food LLC · Kusina ni Mars · Chicago Test Kitchen · A Tea Love
🛍️ RETAIL & ARTS/CRAFTS VENDORS
Cavite LLC · Elite Crafts and Bracelets · Hyacinth's Jewelry · IM Home Candles · Lil Hazel Lites · Lumiere Skin Co · Margie Tayone Bruce · Midwest Express Clinic · Mutuc Clay · Studio 355 Permanent Jewelry · Zee Lacson · Xotica Boutique LLC · Front Me Fitness Apparel · Lawn Sign Surprise
🤝 COMMUNITY PARTNERS
CIRCA Pintig · Filipino School of Chicago · Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago · Tahanan Filipino Center · Piyesta Pinoy · AFIRE · Filipino First Responder Foundation · Balikbayan Book Club / Rizal Center · FALA Chicago · Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Chicago
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And to the nearly 700 of you who came out to Eugene Field Park on a beautiful Saturday afternoon — thank you. You are the reason we keep doing this. You are the reason Filipino music has a home in this city. You showed up, you stayed, you danced, you voted, you ate, you connected — and you reminded us that this community is something truly worth celebrating.
We'll see you next year. 🌟🇵🇭
Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.
With so much love,
Lou Ella Rose & the entire Musika SamaSama Filipino Festival 2026 Family 💛
Presented by the Chicago Park District · musikasamasama.com
08/29/2026
🗺️ Plan Your Visit to Musika SamaSama Filipino Festival 2026!
Check out our festival map to help you navigate the event and find important areas during your visit.
Join Chicago’s only Filipino cultural festival presented and supported by Chicago Park District & Night Out in the Parks!
📍 LOCATION: Eugene Field Park, 5100 N. Ridgeway, Chicago, IL
🗓️ DATE & TIME: Saturday, August 29 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
✅ FREE ADMISSION & OPEN TO ALL AGES
Don’t miss this chance to be part of a fun-filled celebration of Filipino culture, music, and community!
🎟️ RSVP: www.musikasamasama.com
08/29/2026
Take a look of food vendors for Musika SamaSama Filipino Festival!
Bringing you their delicious food, drinks and authentic flavor!
Join Chicago’s only Filipino cultural festival presented and supported by Chicago Park District & Night In Out in The Parks!
🎨 Showcase your artisanal crafts
🎤 Share your talents on stage
🍴 Serve up delicious food
🤝 Join us as a community partner
📍 LOCATION: Eugene Field Park, 5100 N. Ridgeway, Chicago IL
🗓️ DATE & TIME: Saturday, August 29 / 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
✅ FREE ADMISSION & OPEN TO ALL AGES
Don’t miss this chance to be part of a fun-filled day of culture, music, and community!
🎟️ RSVP NOW to get your tickets: www.musikasamasama.com (link in bio)
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.