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1994 – Cleveland

PerformanceBallet National Folklorique de Filipinas
  
Date and TimeFeb 8 , 1994 – 08:00 PM
VenueClevelend
TheaterPalace Theater in Playhouse Square Center
TypeInternational Performance
  

BALLET NATIONAL FOLKLORIQUE DE PHILIPINAS
Ramon A. Obusan,
Artistic Director

Cleveland, February 8, 1994
Palace Theatre
in Playhouse Square Center
presented by The Philippine American Society of Ohio in cooperation with
Cuyahoga Community College

Cuyahoga Community College PLAYHOUSE SQUARE CENTER

THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF OHIO (PASO)

The Philippine American Society of Ohio is a non-profit organization engaged in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Philippines. The Society’s Foundation supports worthy educational/cultural, social and civic activities.

PASO BALLET FOLKLORIQUE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Lita Peralta
Marina Tuason

PASO COMMITTEE MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS 1994-95

Juliet So-Bosita, M.D., President
Mrs. Alice Ocampo, Vice-President
Rosalinda de Jesus, M.D., Treasurer
Mr. Mac delos Reyes, Secretary
Ruben Agra, M.D.
Fely Bangayan
Renato Bosita, M.D.
Claro Caluya, M.D.
Armando Damian, M.D.
Amado Defante
Renato Encomienda, M.D.
Ted Exconde, M.D.
Sol Ganchorre, M.D.
Peter Gomos

Zenaida R. Jandi, M.D.
Fe Juan
Gloria Lawas
Rodolfo Lontoc, M.D.
Augusto Miguel
Remy Miguel
Mike Ocampo
Ben Ortega, M.D.
Domingo Patawaran
Alberto Sucion
Maria Sucion
Carlito Tejada
Marina Tuason
Benjamin Tupaz
Nicanor Veloso

PASO WOMEN’S AUIXILIARY OFFICERS, 1994-95

Thelma Ortega, President
Teresita Ruiz, Vice President
Clarissa Trocio, Secretary
Angelina Tejada, Treasurer
Nena Tugaoen, PRO
Ramona Caluya, Sunshine Lady
Mila Arevalo, M.D.
Teodora Barcelona
Marina Bautista

Fely Viray
Rosario Celerio, M.D.
Marlene Diaz
Celia Encomienda
Nelida Enrique, M.D.
Susan Flores, M.D.
Annie Gomos
Mila Gonzales, M.D.
Rosie So-Bunag, M.D.

ARTS PASO FOUNDATION
Rodolfo Lontoc, M.D., President
Modesto Peralta, M.D., Treasurer

THE SHOWTIME AT HIGH NOON SERIES

The Showtime at High Noon Series, sponsored by Cuyahoga Community College, is dedicated to promoting cultural awareness through the performing arts. The Series, now in its tenth year, presents thirteen programs encompassing music, dance and theatre annually in the theatres of Playhouse Square. Offered free of charge to the public on a first-come, first served basis, the programs, which take place on weekdays at noon between September and June, attract more than ten thousand people each season.

CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Board of Trustees

Richard Acton
Caesar Burkes
John D. Chiappetta, Vice Chairperson
Dr. Doris Evans
Nadine Feighan, Chairperson
Marcia Levine
Rubie McCullough
Johnie Reed, Student Trustee
Hilton Smith
Timothy Wuliger

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Dr. Jerry Sue Owens, President and Secretary of the District
Dr. Sunil Chand, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Frank M. Reis, Executive Vice President for Human Resources/Administration
Mr. Marshall Moore, Treasurer of the District
Mrs. Carol Scheid, Associate Secretary of the Board

OFFICE OF CULTURAL ARTS

Dr. Lucille P. Gruber, Director
Catena R. Galipo, Staff Assistant
BALLET NATIONAL FOLKLORIQUE
DE
PHILIPINAS

The vast archipelago of the Philippines, in the China Sea between Australia and China, comprising more than 7,000 islands, is named after King Philip II of Spain. It remained under Spanish rule for four centuries.

This Spanish rule, and the Catholic religion have had a profound influence on the culture and art of this Asian country, which was nonetheless able to preserve part of its own roots during these centuries of oppression and of foreign influence.

Ramon A. Obusan, the director of the Ballet National Folklorique de Philippinas, is first and foremost an ethnologist. For many years he has ceaselessly scoured the islands to gather cultural and artistic vestiges of his immense land. He joined the BAYANIHAN Dance Company in 1964 as a dance researcher and later became one of it’s lead dancers. In 1972, he created his own folkloric dance group.

Over the years the reputation of the Ballet National Folklorique de Philipinas has continued to grow, thanks to its exceptional artistic qualities, the competence of it’s creator, and its untiring pursuit of ethnographic research.

it’s desire to preserve and develop traditional Philippine music and dance, the company offers us a wonderful insight into the various ethnographic aspects of its homeland, from the ritual dances of the mountain dwellers of Luzon to the folk dances of Mindanao, forming a delectable marriage of Spanish-Mexican dances and ancient tribal customs.

The wealth of costumes (more than 400, most of them original tribal) ranging from wide lace skirts and pineapple thread blouses that show Spanish influence, to the fine gold thread embroideries of Islamic origin, and the ponchos from Mexico, lend this magnificent and colorful spectacle a note of enchantment.

For this tour, Ramon Obusan has mounted a program appropriately called “the mysterious and unknown rituals of the Philippines to capture the unparalleled spectacle that only the Philippine islands can offer.

For the first time since the war, the Ballet National Folklorique de Philippinas conquered this year thousands of Japanese audiences with 21 performances in cultural centers of major cities of Japan. Other invitations are from India, Mexico, China, the USA and again in Japan. To fill those demands, the ballet has an ongoing training program.

Watch the Filipinos dance and sing with primitive gongs, move to exotic kulintang music or to stamp to Spanish guitars. Tonight you will see the Philippine islands ‘mysterious and wild rituals’

BALLET NATIONAL FOLKLORIQUE DE PHILIPINAS
THE COMPANY RAMON A. OBUSAN, Artistic Director

Female Dancers
Samantha Aparato
Gemma Condalor
Sharon Gustilo
May Linawag
Susana Macaraig
Dinah Sario
Rouvella Serrano
Irene Unay
Rowena Villochino
Cherry Ylanan

Male Dancers
Sergio Anilocotan
Rowelito Fermin
Randy Guevara
Renaldo Mendoza
Warren Munar
Raul Nepomuceno
Angelito Santos
Joseph Tiratira
Lyle Villahermoza
Allan Villochino

Ricardo Perochou

Adam Obusan
Dennis Tan

BALLET NATIONAL FOLKLORIQUE DE PHILIPINAS

PROGRAMM

1. MALAKAS AT MAGANDA – According to a Manubo legend, a weary bird perched on a large bamboo bough and heard strange noises inside. He picked on the bamboo until it opened and the first man and women, Malakas the strong and Maganda the beautiful, came forth. And from them sprang all the great peoples of the island.

II. HIGHLANDERS WILD FURY – With the call of the wild in their blood, the freedom of the forest in their spirit, the Kalingas, Ifugaos, Gaddangs, Bontoks and eight other tribal groups celebrate. A headhunt, a birth, a wedding, a death or a bountiful harvest is attended with wild feasting.

1. PATTONG – Returning Kalinga braves brandish head trophies as village maidens decorate them with accessories only fit for Mingers or successful headhunters. The sound of brass gongs to accompany songs and the pattong ring till the wee hours of the night.

2. RAGRAGSAKAN – Kalinga women balance baskets filled with wares for a feast. “Blankets of Life” are colorfully displayed.

3. TURAYEN – An Isneg trio become as mighty flying birds in wild abandon.

4. DINUYA – Ifugao builders of the Banawe rice-terraces, considered the eighth wonder of the world, celebrate a wedding after a bountiful harvest.

III. BODA AL FIN DE SIGLO – The Spanish-American war that broke out at the turn-of-the-century threw the Philippines into a daze. Amidst all this confusion, people continued their celebrations of life, so typical of the Filipino who copes with adverse situations. – Here is a wedding at the turn-of-the-century.

1. A Filipinized Spanish love song.

2. POLKABAL – Young lady friends of the bride and groom lend a graceful air to the wedding as they await the arrival of the newly weds.
3. TIADOT – Gaily dressed couples show off the fashion of the period, long tailed skirts and americana serrada suits, a South-American import.

4. PASEO DE ANDALUZ – Love dance of a newly wed, revealing its far-off Spanish origin.

5. LANCEROS DE LINGAYEN – having been swept by European haute couture, the Filipina matched their Western cousins by displaying the Filipino “Terno” in this grand ballroom quadrille.

6. BIRGINIA – A Filipinized Virginia reel from the small Southern island of Cuyo.

7. LA JOTA DE MANILA – One of the many Philippine Jotas celebrating Philippine independence on June 12, 1898. The generals who came to celebrate danced with elongated bamboo castanets to take the place of tradtional Spanish castanets.

IV. MINDANAO EXOTICA – The Southern islands of Minadao are peopled by Islam believers who for hundreds of years have selfishly kept the exotic traditions of their island intact and away from the great currents of change.

1. KAKULANGAN – The graceful walk of the Maranao women as they showoff beautifully beaded umbrellas on the way to a wedding is contrasted by the snobbish stance of the Maranao men.

2. MAGIGAL: KULINDANG SA TAMLANG – Two dances combined by the Maguindanos to celebrate the end of a month-long fasting and the start of the Ramadan. Long brass fingernails, money-pennants, and skillful balancing on bamboos held on the shoulders accent this feasting.

3. BURONG-TALO – Self defense dance accompanied by drum and gongs. Movements show the fight of the cat and the hawk.

4. MAG-ASIK – Maguindanao slave girls perform movements of a dancing doll for their masters

5. SINGKIL – The most exotic of all Muslim dances made into a fairy tale. The bride becomes a princess and the groom a prince. An entire entourage enter with criss-crossed bamboo poles that are clapped in syncopated rhythm. An Arabic chant of conversion proceeds the dance.

INTERMISSION
V. FIRE-CELEBRATION OF LIFE-Gods and deities have been in the minds of men since before recorded history. Many tribal communities living in deep forest recesses and dark mountains still supplicate to the great powers unknown to answer multiple or single needs. Fire has long been regarded as the source of relief and ergo could be god himself

1. PAG-AMPO – Procession, prayer and acceptance of ceremonial fire by tribal chieftains from the Great Fire Giver, maaslag na amay.

2. DUGSO – Bukidnon women, after donning their best costume topped by a feathered comb to remind them of their ancestral beginning, dance around the sacred flames in imitation of the colorful Pagpagayok bird.

3. DIWATA – A powerful ritual using fire and antique celadon bowls to invoke aid from a friendly deity

4. SUGOD-UNO – Once every 13th moon, the Bagobos inhabiting the slopes of Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, call upon Falimac Manubo to spare them from famine and want as they perform the Gin-um ritual. Old clothes that bear disease, death, bad luck are thrown into the river while a shaman helps them into new jackets. Men take to flight as newly hatched eaglets ready to fight the wind. Their success makes them candidates for leaders or warriors of top consideration.

5. PASALAMAT – Return of the fire to the great fire giver and a final thanksgiving.

VI. TAYO NA SA FILIPINAS – An invitation to experience the sunshine islands

of the Philippines: to share it’s warm hospitality and to be caught in the streets like a true native of the Philippines.

1. HARANA – A moonlight serenade.

2. PANDANGGO/WASIWAS – Celebrated dance of the lights. Lighted glasses are wrapped in colorful scarves and swayed like beacons to fishermen returning home.

3. KUNDANSOY – A wives’ song.

4. BINASUAN – Wine filled glasses are delicately balanced on the maidens heads and hands. The men skillfully perform antics with the glass without spilling a drop.

5. MAGLALATIK – Coconut shells arranged in a body harness are clicked in perfect timing with a stringed band.

6. KALAPATI – Lady dancers bill and coo like doves.

7. GUITARA- A guitar tune played in a headstrand.

8. PASTORES – Danced to the Spanish Christmas melody composed by the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Young groups from the Bicol region play the role of Christmas shepherds in their Mexican influenced costumes.

9. BANGKO- A wooden bench is used in a dance floor.

10. KARATONG – Bamboo noisemakers accompany gaily dressed ladies in a boisterous street parade.

11. TINIKLING – The best-known Philippine dance. Dancers dart in and out of rapidly clapped bamboo poles in invocation of the long-legged bird called “Tikling.”

FINALE

in association with Philippine Airlines

PATRONS

Dr. Francis Abello
Academy of Medicine Alliance
Drs. Ruben and Lolita Agra Jesse Alvina
Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Amador
Mr. and Mrs. Rogelio Ancheta
Jose Antonio (New York)
Drs. Domingo and Gloria Apolonio
Mrs. Mary Auer Dr. Paraluman Banaga
Dr. and Mrs. Bert Bangayan
Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Barrett
Dr. and Mrs. Art Basa
Dr. Renato Bosita
Dr. and Mrs. Eli Briones
Miss Elisha Briones and Guest
Dr. Elena Buendia
Dr. and Mrs. Ireneo Cadsawan
Dr. and Mrs. Claro Caluya
Dr. and Mrs. Celso Carandang
Mrs. Helene Chambers
Jean Chrenka
Vi Colombi
Dr. Sammie Tyree Cox
Drs. Armando & Carmencita Damian
Mr. and Mrs. Amado Defante
Dr. and Mrs. Renato Encomienda
Drs. Romeo and Nelida Enrinque
Mrs. Lerma Espina
Drs. Roger and Maritess Espinosa
Dr. and Mrs. Ted Exconde
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Falconi
Miss Linda Fried
Dr. and Mrs. Nelson de la Fuente
Drs. Sol and Yolanda Ganchorre
Miss Ester Garcia
Dr. and Mrs. Ricardo Gatchalian
Mrs. Lillian Glenno
Dr. and Mrs. Peter D. Gomos
Drs. Roy and Mila Gonzales
Donna Hom – Li Wah Restaurant
Home Nursing Care, Inc.
Miss Mary lamarino
Drs. Jorge and Zenaida Jandi
Dr. Rosalinda De Jesus
Dr. and Mrs. Norberto Juan
Dr. Felicitas Juguilon & Guest
Mrs. and Mrs. Karl Kniely
Dr. Nerissa Kongthong
Mr. Johns Lee and Guest
Mr. and Mrs. Danny Lontoc
Drs. Rodolfo and Malaya Lontoc
Marilex Luna
Mr. and Mrs. Cas Marcelo
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Matay
Mercy’s Hair Creation
Dr. Rogelia Medidas
Mr. and Mrs. Augusto Miguel

Dr. and Mrs. Dalmacio Miranda
Miss Janet Mismas Gloria Naji
Mr. Mike Ocampo
Dr. Maria Pilar Ordonez
Dr. and Mrs. Ben Ortega
Mr. and Mrs. Domingo Patawaran
Dr. and Mrs. Modesto Peralta
Philippine American Ministry, Fr. Mel Esperida, Director
Dr. and Mrs. Ernesto Quesea
Dr. Eva Racaza
Mr. and Mrs. Mac de los Reyes
Dr. Norma Reynes
Mr. and Mrs. Orly Ruiz
Miss Teresa Ruiz
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schwartz
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Short
Mrs. Maureen Shorts
Dr. and Mrs. Eulogio Sioson
Dr. Juliet L. So-Bosita
Mr. and Mrs. Gil Solitaria (California)
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Sucion
Dr. Consolacion Tabora
Mr. and Mrs. Carlito Tejada
Dr. and Mrs. Rogaciano Troccio
Dr. and Mrs. Mauro Tuason
Dr. Domingo Tugaoen
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Veloso
Dr. and Mrs. Doroteo Ventanilla
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Villeno
Dr. and Mrs. Roy Yap