Memphis names Philippines ‘honored country’

Good news. The Philippines has been named the “honored country” by Memphis—the largest city in the US southeastern state of Tennessee—in its 2012 Memphis in May International Festival (MIMIF), the US Embassy in Manila announced yesterday.

In a report posted on its website, the embassy quoted Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr.
as having said “the Philippine government and the Filipino people are truly humbled by the privilege bestowed upon the Philippines as the honored country for the 2012 MIMIF, showcasing the best of Philippine culture, cuisine, performances, business practices and Filipino hospitality.”

“This festival will clearly demonstrate that ‘it’s more fun in the Philippines,’” Cuisia said, quoting the new Philippine slogan for promoting tourism.

Aside from building international ties and understanding, the MIMIF also “fosters civic pride and promotes awareness of Memphis heritage,” the  US Embassy said.

This week, at least 30 community and business leaders from Memphis are visiting the Philippines to “explore areas for potential trade and investment,” the embassy said.

“The delegation will be joined by their families and friends and other Memphis cultural enthusiasts,” the embassy said.

In a statement, Holt said he was “thrilled to be leading this trip…I look forward to furthering our relationships with individuals and interests in the Philippines.”

Known as the “River City,” Memphis was founded in 1819. It is the 20th largest city in the United States.

Festival in the Philippines

NCCA’s Sayaw marks 10th year with dance tour of Panay

PERFORMERS during curtain call of Sayaw Pinoy in Guimbal, Iloilo

Now on its 10th year, Sayaw Pinoy has become the longest-running festival of the National Arts Month, renamed the Philippine International Arts Festival.

The dance festival has been crisscrossing the Philippine archipelago to bring the gospel of dance—from classical to modern, from indigenous to international and contemporary—for several years now.

For this year, Sayaw Pinoy, led by Shirley Halili-Cruz, head of the National Committee on Dance of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, toured the Visayas and Mindanao.

The festival reached Bukidnon, Iloilo, Capiz, Zamboanga del Norte, Ozamis City, Pagadian City, Aurora, Paracale in Bicol, Quezon, Batangas.

On Panay Island, Sayaw Pinoy performed in Guimbal and San Joaquin towns in Iloilo province, at SM Iloilo City, and in Roxas City.

Performing were the Halili-Cruz Ballet Company of Quezon City; Sining Bulakenyo of Malolos, Bulacan; MEV Dance Company of Dumaguete City; and Melengas Dance Ensemble of Mindanao.

In all of the performances, the dancers were met with warm applause.

In Guimbal, for example, the male dancers of the Halili-Cruz Ballet Company became heartthrobs, with the local girls mobbing them after the performances and later lining up for their autographs.

The Halili-Cruz Company showed wide mastery of a gamut of dance forms, from classical ballet to contemporary. They even performed an interpretation of British pop sensation and Grammy winner Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”

Sining Bulakenyo colorfully did Spanish-inspired dances such as Pasadoble, Desposorio and Jota.

The MEV Dance Company also did classical ballet but proved impressive as well in doing jazz and tap dance.

The Melengas Dance Ensemble showed its mastery of Mindanao dance forms such as the Subanen, Kambuyang, Silong sa Ganding and Pangalay. At times, fiercely acrobatic and engagingly graceful, the Mindanao company showed the color and dynamics of Mindanao genres.

Shirley Halili-Cruz said the consistently warm and enthusiastic reception by provincial audiences to Sayaw Pinoy showed that Filipinos took to dance and the performing arts.

“I think that is what sustains Sayaw Pinoy through the years—the passion to promote arts and dance, the passion to share an event that uplifts the spirit,” Cruz said.

“If you hear how the audience appreciates the government effort to reach them through this program, you will forget the fatigue, the inconveniences and the difficulties.”

Festival in the Philippines