BCHS Youth Band is Born: The Mailbox

by Melissa Badua

Through the support of the City of Victoria Cultural Infrastructure Grant, BCHS formed the Bayanihan Creative Collective (BCC) to celebrate and share Filipino cultural heritage through music, arts, and community programming. BCC’s mission is to promote cultural understanding and artistic expression through events, workshops, and performances - both traditional and contemporary.

One of BCC’s newest projects under the City of Victoria Music Strategy Grant, is a collaboration with James Gonzales, also known as Finest Summer, a passionate local artist who has performed at events like Mabuhay at Centennial Square and participated in community theatre. James brings a unique sound by blending Filipino indigenous instruments with modern music, creating a fresh platform for cultural storytelling.

The collaboration supports youth and their interest in Filipino cultural arts. It offered them hands- on experience in songwriting, recording and live performance. The group named themselves ‘Mailbox’ because email was frequently used to share their ideas when inspired outside of their regular weekly meetings. The final original composition ‘Day by Day’ had already debuted live at small lounges and will perform at this year’s Mabuhay celebration. The lyrics highlight resilience and working together. Their work will continue to be shared widely and all music and lyrics created remain property of the Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society.

The $5136 grant from the City of Victoria helps cover recording costs, instrumental rentals and honoraria. It’s a big step. It’s a big step for James - a big-time dream chaser, and a meaningful opportunity for young artists to grow.

The collaboration was made possible through a community partnership with the Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society.