The Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company in partnership with the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe and PETA Theater Center proudly presents “Magkabilaan” --- the 20th anniversary concert to pay homage to the late Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, Founder & Artistic Director of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT).
Magkabilaan” shall celebrate Lahing Kayumanggi’s and Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe’s long standing partnership and exchange programme spanning two decades.
“MAGKABILAAN” will be held on April 25 and 26 (Friday & Saturday), 7:30PM at the PETA Theater located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.
Special guests include the alumni of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe, longest folk dance company since 1946; Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir and talented singer / fashion designer Leo Almodal.
Starting as a small informal group of people in London who were nostalgic about Philippine music and dance, Lahing Kayumanggi has become a professional dance company with five professional dancers and musicians leading 35 enthusiastic members from the Filipino community. Their increasing reputation for quality, authenticity and innovation has led them to receive wide acclaim for their performances all over the UK in venues including the Philippine Embassy, World Travel Markets, Filipino Barrio Fiestas and community events, the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, as well as some countries in the continent. For four years running, Lahing Kayumanggi was a regular and popular feature on BBC TV’s Generation Game.
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In December 2006, Lahing Kayumanggi received the Presidential Banaag Award ‘in recognition of its unwavering dedication to artistic excellence, raising the cultural awareness and ethnic pride of the Filipino community in the United Kingdom, and supporting cultural and humanitarian activities in the Philippines’. In 2012, the Lahing Kayummanggi Dance Company won the ABS-CBN Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. - Bayaning Pilipino Awards (Europe).
For the past 65 years, the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT) continues to play an important role in folk dance education among the Filipino youth here and abroad towards the appreciation, preservation and promotion of their Philippine cultural heritage. By traveling to the different stages of the world across Asia, Europe and North America, the PBFDT has showcased the diverse multi-cultural Philippine life through a panorama of songs, dances and music with its customs, traditions, and various religions in their authentic form. Through the pioneering leadership of the founding Artistic Director 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 be one of the leading dance companies in the Philippines.
A recipient of the Philippine Presidential Medal of Merit Award ‘Patnubay ng Kalinangan sa Sayaw’ (1971), the PBFDT aims to further research and study unrecorded Filipino folk dance and music as well as, developing and sharing the ever evolving story of the Philippines on world stages, carrying on the spirit of cooperation, friendly association and harmonious living—which the word ‘Baranggay’ has become synonymous with throughout the Philippines and the world.
Considered as one of the country’s top children’s choir, the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir (HMtQCC) has been active in both local and international chorale scenes, traveling extensively for performances and competitions. They won as the World Choir Olympic Champion in the Music of the Religions Category in Bremen, Germany (2004); the First Asian Choir Games in Jakarta, Indonesia where they garnered Gold medal in the Gospel and Spiritual category and Silver medals in Musica Sacra and Musica Contemporanea categories 2007. In the local chorale arena, HMtQCC was given the Gold Award in the Children’s Choir Category in the First National Choral Competition organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in August 2009.
In recognition of their multi-awards, they received the Ani ng Dangal from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2009. In 2010, HMtQCC was the Grand Prize winner in the ABS-CBN Star Records’ Sa Yo Lamang Chorale Fest. Recently, together with Jamie Rivera, they won the Best Inspirational/Religious category in the 24th Awit Awards given by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc (PARI).
Leo Almodal who is a fashion designer by profession has dressed up the country’s top beauty queen titlists Venus Raj, Shamsey Supsup and other celebrities.
“Magkabilaann” is directed by Ronnie Del Barrio; Artistic Director - Lamberto Cruz and Lighting Director - Katsch Catoy.
Costumes were designed by Barge Ramos, Edgar Madamba, Lito Perez, Herbert Custodio, Pipoy Bernardo and Edna Encarnacîon.
Tickets are at Php 400.00 / Senior citizen: Php 320.00
