Prov’l Gov’t revives ‘Balitok a Tawir’ culture and arts fest
CAPITOL NEWS
LINGAYEN – The provincial government brings the Pangasinan Culture and Arts Festival dubbed ‘Balitok a Tawir’ in the limelight anew on February 2 for the grand finals of folkdance contest at the Sison Auditorium, here.
The Balitok fest, now on its sixth year, is presented by the provincial government in collaboration with the Philippine Folkdance Society (PFS) and the Department of Education (DepEd) as the opening salvo of the National Arts Month provincial celebration this February.
Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Malu Elduayan said the revival of the Balitok a Tawir or Golden Heritage manifests the support of the provincial leadership of Governor Amado I. Espino, III to further promote, preserve, re-live and celebrate the authentic culture and artistry of Pangasinan.
Under the administration of former governor and now 5th district Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr., Balitok fest was staged five times which was participated in by municipal and city local government units in the province (from 2011 to 2014 which had choral singing, folkdance, and zarzuela as contest categories; and in 2015 which only had folkdance as contest category).
“The cultural showcase this year features native dances with Pangasinan – Ilokano origin, namely ‘Pasikat na Baso’ and ‘Purpuri’ which are the contest pieces for the high school and elementary categories, respectively,” Elduayan said.
Pasikat na Baso is a very colorful and spectacular skill dance which originated from the barrios of Pangasinan; pasikat means ‘to show off’ and baso means ‘drinking glass’. Purpuri, on the other hand, is an Ilokano dance which is classified as a social dance among the Christian people living in the lowlands.
Mangatarem National High School folk dancers perform Oasioaos, which means “swinging” in Pangasinan during the Balitok-a-Tawir 2016 Folkdance Competition held on December 15 at the Sison Auditorium
Other Pangasinan dances to include oasioas, ontanay, kalatong, binislakan and sayaw ed tapew na bangko will also be featured as choice pieces of the competing contingents.
Competing groups sent by province-based DepEd schools divisions are:
Elementary division (12 entries): Bayambang Central I School, Manat Elementary School – Binmaley, Magsaysay Elementary School – Lingayen, Torres-Bugallon Elementary School – Bugallon; Manaoag Central School SPED Center, Casafernandoan Elementary School – Pozorrubio, Umingan Central School, Dona Aurea Elementary School – Sto-Tomas, Mangaldan I Central School; Central 1 Elementary School – San Carlos City, Caoayan Killing Elementary School – San Carlos City; and Lanapin Elementary School – Urdaneta City.
Secondary division (14 entries): Pangasinan National High School, DGBDH – Aguilar, Mangatarem National High School; Cipriano Primicias National High School – Alcala, Luciano Millan National High School – Asingan, Manaoag National High School, Mangaldan National High School; Alaminos City National High School; Dagupan City National High School, East Central Integrated School – Dagupan City, Bonuan Boquig National High School – Dagupan City; and Turac National High School – San Carlos City, SEPNAS – San Carlos City.
At stake in the cultural event are major awards for elementary (top three: champion, Php35,000; 1st runner-up, Php25,000, and 2nd runner-up, Php15,000) and for secondary (top three: champion, Php50,000; 1st runner-up, Php30,000; and 2nd runner-up Php20,000).
Non-winners will each receive Php10,000 consolation prize. /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca
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