CAPITOL NEWS

LINGAYEN – The Provincial Government of Pangasinan hosted the 3rd Regional Folk Dance Workshop at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center last August 19-21.

At the culminating day of the event, Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III told the participants to reintroduce and engage the current generation to develop interest in traditional dances amid the dominance of modern and hip-hop grooves.

“I hope you continue to scatter the contagious love for our province and its culture as started by the former governor, now Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr.,” he remarked.

Mounted in partnership with Philippine Folk Dance Society-Region 1 (PFDS-R1), the workshop intended to re-echo learnings of cultural dances from the annual National Folk Dance Workshop to physical education teachers and professors and dance enthusiasts in the Ilocos Region, particularly in the province.

“This is the chance for the participants to learn the upgraded competencies in teaching traditional and cultural dances and teach them to their students, especially those who cannot afford to travel to the national workshops usually done in the Visayas and Mindanao,” said Prof. Childe Libertad, event director and PFDS-R1 president in an earlier interview.

Libertad stressed that the workshop has been realized through the auspices of Governor Pogi who, like his predecessor, is a staunch advocate of Pangasinan heritage revival and propagation.

The PFDS-R1 president also noted the increasing number of participants to the event since its first leg in 2014, which he identified as indicator of the growing awareness of Pangasinense, most especially the performing arts enthusiasts, in cultural dances.

During the first two days of the dance workshop, PFDS-R1 adviser/consultant Mila R. Ancheta, and PFDS national board officer Aquilino “Aqui” Santos lectured on folk dance fundamentals and demonstrated folk dance sampling like the Pangasinan native dance Ontanay and other street dance and folk dance rehearsals.

The provincial government’s very own Danggoan Pangasinan Dance Troupe members assisted in leading the demonstration of the dances.

In the last day, participants showcased the rehearsed dances in full costume: Ontan-ay, Sultido Banna, La Jota Filipina, Cariñosa de Guadalupe, Virginia and Salakban.

Comprising the participants are about a hundred of elementary, high school and collegiate physical education teachers and professors and dance enthusiasts not only from the Pangasinan but also from the Aringay town and Agoo City of La Union.

Also provided in the seminar are dance literatures and media to aid the teachers in instructing students in folk dance performance. /Rex Marion C. Laguerta

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