Centennial celebration of Natl. Artist for Dance Francisca Aquino starts March 7

On March 7, Wednesday, the Philippines will start a one-year celebration of the centennial year of National Artist for Dance Francisca Reyes Aquino.

 

President Benigno Aquino III declared the period from March 7, 2012 to March 6, 2013 as the centennial year through Proclamation 282, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore said.

 

“Preeminent achievements that have enhanced the cultural heritage of the Filipino people deserve the recognition and acknowledgment of our government in pursuit of its policy of preserving and developing the Filipino culture and a national identity,” said Pres. Aquino, who enjoined the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to lead the celebration of the centennial of the national artist in his Proclamation No. 282 issued last November 8.

 

He added “the works and achievements of Aquino are reflective of this preeminent excellence and of the national genius that contributed to the national heritage of the Philippines and the world.”

 

“Acknowledged as the Folk Dance Pioneer, Aquino began her research on folk dances in the 1920s making trips to remote barrios in Central and Northern Luzon. Her research on the unrecorded forms of local celebration, ritual and sport resulted into a 1926 thesis titled ‘Philippine Folk Dances and Games,’ and arranged specifically for use by teachers and playground instructors in public and private schools,” the embassy said on its website.

 

After graduating from the University of the Philippines in 1927, Aquino was sent by then UP president Jorge Bocobo to research on folk songs and dances in the provinces. She continued her research and was eventually commissioned in 1934 to document the country's traditions, a task which required her to climb mountains and cross rivers. 

 

The National Historical Commission writes that she gathered about 50 basic steps and 200 folk dances of various modes and colors. 

 

In the 1940s when she was supervisor of physical education at the Bureau of Education, young Filipinos were taught folk dancing to keep them aware of their cultural heritage.

 

For her “outstanding contribution toward the advancement of Filipino culture," she received the Republic Award of Merit from the late President Ramon Magsaysay in 1954. She was also recognized by Boston University, Far Eastern University, and UNESCO National Commission.

 

Aquino was born on March 9, 1899 in Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan, and died on November 21, 1983. 

 

Her work lives on in various articles as well as 15 books, which include “Philippine National Dances” (1946); “Gymnastics for Girls” (1947); “Fundamental Dance Steps and Music” (1948); “Foreign Folk Dances” (1949); “Dances for all Occasion” (1950); “Playground Demonstration” (1951); and “Philippine Folk Dances, Volumes I to VI.”

 

The category of National Artist was created under Proclamation No. 1001 signed in 1972. In 1973, Aquino was the first woman to become a National Artist. –CGL/KG, GMA News