Bridging cultures with ‘Ugnayan sa Sining’

CEBU, Philippines - The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Cultural Exchange, in partnership with The University of the Visayas, Iloilo National High School and the City of Silay, presents “Ugnayan sa Sining: Community Performances and Exchange Tours” showcasing the country’s treasures through a variety of dance and choir presentations on Wednesday, August 19, at the University of the Visayas Gymnasium, Main Campus, with a 3:30 p.m. matinee and 7 p.m. gala show. Admission is for free.

Aimed to promote cultural exchanges between cultural organizations in the regions, “Ugnayan sa Sining” will be featuring the Dagyaw Baile of Iloilo, Kabataang Silay Rondalla Ensemble of Negros Occidental, and the University of  the Visayas Chorale of Cebu. 

Last November, the performance tour was successfully undertaken in Mindanao, specifically in Cagayan de Oro, Sto. Tomas and Tagum City- Davao del Norte. To further their efforts to support and promote regional cultural groups, the three Visayas performing groups will be brought on tour again, this time in the provinces/cities where the featured groups come from.

The collaborative project results to very good outcomes and more importantly the fulfillment of its goals – to highlight the flourishing of arts in the regions, support and motivate local cultural performing groups to attain artistic excellence, and promote local art and cultural expressions in various venues and communities.

Silay, once dubbed as “The Paris of Negros,” has reiterated its commitment through the dedication of the local administration to pursue cultural development especially to the less fortunate children in the community. The Kabataang Silay Ensemble started in 1993 as a group of 36 primary school students who had successfully hurdled auditions conducted by the cultural staff of the city. Every summer, a six-week training workshop is organized for primary school children. From this workshop, children who display great potential for skills development are integrated in the city’s year-round training.

The Kabataan Silay Ensemble had been active in the promotion not only of the City of Silay but also of traditional Filipino folk dances and music. Earning the title of “Yound Cultural Ambassadors,” these children have traveled extensively within the country to exhibit and display the rich cultural heritage of Silayas – the premier culture and arts center of the Province of Negros Occidental. The group has also joined international festivals and has represented the Philippines to the 2nd Asian Children’s Folklore Festival in Guangdong, China last in August 2000 where they received the Performance Memento. A year after, they were given the Award of Excellence for their performance in the 2001 Aberdeen International Youth Festival held in Aberdeen, Scotland. They were adjudged National Champion for High School Rondalla Division and Best Overall Performer during the 2002 National Music Competitions for Young Artists.

On the other hand, The Dagyaw Baile, formerly known as Dagyaw Theatre and Dance Company, is the Flagship of Cultural Excellence of the Iloilo National High School. Dagyaw is composed of high school students enrolled in the School for the Arts, majoring in dance. It was organized in July 1990 through the efforts of Dr. Riza S. Amaguin. With its present Artistic Director, Ria B. Española, Dagyaw maintains a 35- member troupe, which is required to attend major classes offered by the program in acting, ballet, folkdance, modern ballet and contemporary dance.

Dagyaw started as a theater group called Theatro Kabataan in 1987. All its members were equally trained in all disciplines of drama and theater. On the first year of its founding, the company was sent to two national tours with command performances at Malacañang Palace for former President Corazon Aquino. In 1992, they toured Japan upon the invitation of the Philippine Japan Cultural Organization, followed by performances in Bangkok for the International  Arts Festival. In the same year, they joined the Midusoji Parade in Osaka Japan as the Philippine representative of the Department of Tourism.

At the end of 2007, Dagyaw Theatre and Dance Company became Dagyaw Baile. It is still the same dance company that aims to sustain its glory as the world renowned dance company.

Then there’s Cebu’s pride – the University of the Visayas Chorale (UV Chorale), which was founded in 1999 by the university’s executive vice president, Dr. Jose R. Gullas, to grant scholarship opportunities for musically talented high school and college students. Last 2012, the University of the Visayas Chorale participated in the Triduum during the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod in Rome, Italy. They also competed and won three gold prizes in Rimini, Italy and one bronze trophy in Tolosa, Spain.

The group is the CCP National Choral Competition Gold awardee, a two-peat champion in the MBC National choral competition in year 2009 and 2011 and second prize in 2010 in the same competition. In 2007, the choir successfully competed in its first-ever international tilt, winning silver and bronze medals and getting ranked as “International Very Good” at the prestigious Busan Choral Festival and Competition. UVC also holds the distinction of being the only Filipino choir to perform during the World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia in 2008.

This Wednesday’s “Ugnayan sa Sining: Community Performances and Exchange Tours” is made possible through the partnership of CCP, the University of the Visayas, UV Chorale, Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum, Jose R. Gullas Halad Foundation, and media partners The Freeman and Banat.

Cultural and music enthusiasts, or anyone just looking for good entertainment are invited to watch. (FREEMAN)