About Us

Our Story | Ating Kwento

Himig Kabataan ("youthful melody" in Tagalog) Cultural Society (HKCS) is a Filipino-Canadian youth collective, home to the first youth-led Filipino Youth choir in Western Canada. Based in Surrey, British Columbia, HKCS aims to share the beauty of Filipino music and educate its significance on a local, national, and global scale.

Himig Kabataan Cultural Society started in 2022 as a one-time volunteer choir for the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in BC (UPAABC) Balagtasan event that year. Bea Correa, the founder of HKCS, was asked by her high school math teacher to put together a choir to sing a few Filipino-composed choral pieces.

After that performance, the group of eight fell in love with the beauty of Philippine choral music and compositions. HKCS decided to continue learning more songs in different Filipino languages, and encouraged their friends to join in.

The rest, they say in Tagalog, “Ay kasaysayan!”

Sharing their passion for Filipino culture and music, HKCS has been on a journey of learning their roots. Composed of second- and third- generation multicultural teens and young adults not fluent in any Filipino language, members of HKCS find a purpose in learning about Filipino culture through song, dance, and visual media.

Our Mission

To encourage young Filipino-Canadians in embracing their Filipino language and culture and to continue to learn more about it through music and art, and to share this with others.

Our Vision

Filipino-Canadians of the next generation embracing and celebrating their Filipino heritage in music and art.

HKCS Collective

In 2025, HKCS has extended their mission of cultural education to a broader demographic, launching its very own understudy program, creative team, instrumental ensemble, and dance squad to embrace and to celebrate Filipino heritage in the arts.

  • HKCS’s choir and founding group.

  • An instrumental ensemble dedicated to the excellence of Filipino musicianship.

  • Filipino dance with a modern twist.

  • Works behind the scenes to visualize HKCS’s mission and vision.

  • HIMIG | Melody

    As its founding group, the choral division of HKCS shines as the heart of the collective. Composed of members ages 15-24 with varying musical backgrounds, HIMIG rehearses and performs choral compositions written or arranged by Filipino artists.

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  • TUGTOG | To Play Music

    Making its official debut at HKCS’ Valentine’s Concert in February of 2025, TUGTOG highlights the excellence of Filipino musicianship.

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  • INDAK | Movement

    INDAK works with young choreographers in giving Filipino dance a modern twist, integrating music and traditional dances in movement that shines a light on the young hearts of the “Canoy” (Canadian-Pinoy).

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  • LIKHA | To Create

    Through photography, videography, graphic design, and social media content, LIKHA extends HKCS’ mission of celebrating Filipino culture to other mediums, as their projects reflect the identities of young Filipino-Canadians.

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