Come and celebrate the 76th
anniversary of Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe in a concert dubbed as
BAYAN KO on November 26 (7pm) and November 27 (3pm and 7pm) at the CCP Main
Theater Lobby.
BAYAN KO is a depiction of the true
identity of the Filipino people, showcasing the colorful and unique indigenous
tribal and folk cultures with their customs and traditions, through music, song
and dance.
The artistic team of BAYAN KO is
led by Ronnie Del Barrio (Director / Artistic Director of PBFDT); Mariano
Santiago (Associate Artistic Director) and Jun Arandela (Musical
Director).
Originally 'barangay' meant
boats used by the Malays arriving on the shores of the Philippines during the
pre-Spanish times. Later, the name came to connote the unit of government known
as the 'Pueblo'.
The word 'barangay', with its
connotation of friendly association and harmonious living was adopted by the
Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT) to reflect its objectives of
developing the physical, mental and social life of the individual through the
cooperative effort of the members.
For the past seven decades, the
PBFDT have traveled to the different stages of the world across Asia,
Europe and North America, providing a window to the complex and culturally rich
history of the Philippines.
The troupe continues to
research, preserve and showcase the diverse multicultural Philippine life, with
its customs, traditions, various religions, depicting the gaiety and
friendliness of its people through its performances of the native arts in their
authentic form.
The folk-like and unaffected
atmosphere of the performances have won the world over as they present the
story of the Philippines through a panorama of songs, dances and music.
The troupe has received many
citations and awards both nationally and internationally.
The most prestigious of these
is the Philippine Presidential Medal of Merit Award ‘Patnubay ng Kalinangan sa
Sayaw’ (1971) - a truly distinguished award of recognition for the important
contribution the troupe is making to its home country.
In 2021, the PB proudly celebrated its
75th Anniversary, a testament to the pioneering leadership of the founding
Artistic Director - the late Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, awardee of the Gawad
CCP Para sa Sining at Sayaw (1990), Philippine Centennial Awards (1999)
and the Gintong BAI Awards (2005).
The PBFDT continues to excel as
one of the leading dance companies in the Philippines, playing an important
role in folk dance education, with most of its members being teachers and
educators.
The group has had a significant
impact on the development of the Filipino youth’s values in appreciation of
their own culture, arts and traditions, particularly folk/traditional dance and
music.
The PBFDT have traveled to
Russia's Red Square, climbed the Great Wall of China, visited the land down
under in Australia, crossed the Berlin Wall and basked in the shadows of
London's Big Ben and Paris' Eiffel Tower while criss-crossing all of Europe,
danced on the stages of Las Vegas and Broadway and performed alongside
Mickey Mouse in Disneyland.
Inspired and guided by the
‘Baranggay Spirit’ and discipline, members and alumni have organized folk dance
groups in their respective schools/universities and communities worldwide, with
the continued support of the mother company, previously under the leadership of
Administrative & Creative Director, the late Mr. Eugenio C. Ticzon, or
‘Kuya Eugene’ as he is fondly remembered by most.
Indeed, the PB has expanded a
thousand folds in its 76 years of existence — the longest running folk dance
group in the country — and it will continue to expand to attain its mission of
educating the Filipino youth towards appreciation, preservation and promotion
of their Philippine cultural heritage.
Today, the dance troupe is
under the new leadership of Administrative & Creative Director, Ronnie del
Barrio, who joined the PB in 1982 as a Principal Dancer during his time at the
PNC (now PNU). Ronnie’s career spans the past three decades, working as a
creative director and choreographer, and a performer in London West End
shows. Ronnie has worked closely with Philippine Embassies and communities
across Europe as an arts consultant, collaborator and facilitator for cultural
projects worldwide. Ronnie co-founded PB’s sister company, the Lahing
Kayumanggi Dance Company (LahingKayumanggi.com), which has become widely recognized
as Europe’s foremost Philippine cultural performance company.
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