Bayanihan 45th year celebration to revive Saturday recital

The award-winning Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company, the country’s national folk dance company, has scheduled a series of activities to mark its 45th anniversary. Spearheading the activities is television director Lito Calzado, chairman of the anniversary celebration’s steering committee.

Calzado, a Bayanihan member in 1964, said Bayanihan alumni based abroad and all over the country will be arriving in Manila in the next couple of weeks to take part in the activities scheduled to start on Aug. 5. The activities will culminate in the Pista sa Maynila to be hosted by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, himself a Bayanihan alumnus.

"This is going to be a grand celebration and we are expecting a large group of Bayanihan alumni to converge here in Manila," Calzado said.

Assisting Calzado is Lory Urtula Lacson, who is the steering committee’s co-chairperson. The committee also has as Secretariat members Suzie Moya Benitez, Rosky Balahadia Hilado, Erlyn Bernaldez Campos, Lilia Castaneres, Mila Ferrer, and Enya Gabor Santillan. The finance committee is composed of Lolita Adea Valdez and Carmen Valdez Liwanag.

The ways and means committee has as members Amelia Capistrano Alonzo, Mara Miciano Enrile, Charry Lagdameo and Madeleine Balagtas Tuviera. The workshop and cultural events committee is co-chaired by Carmen de Jesus Tiglao and Eddie Elejar, with members Leni Alano Cabili, Tony Fabella, Ramon Obusan and Rosa Puertollano.

Lina Iñigo Winebrenner and Bobby Roces will handle the souvenir program, while Maribel Carag Dario will be in charge of publicity and promotion. As for the special committees, the Bayan Fund will handle hospitality and salubong. The Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation will be handling the Balik Pugad, while Pia Sacro will be coordinating the Pista Sa Maynila.

The alumni will be attending an orientation on Aug. 5 at the Bahia of the Hotel Inter-Continental Manila. The following morning, a workshop on "Philippine Heritage and Tradition" has been scheduled at the Ramon Obusan Center.

On Aug. 7, the group will be touring the National Museum. Later in the evening, there will be cocktails and a show by the Bayanihan touring company. The alumni will also attend Balik Pugad, a revival of the Saturday recital, on Aug. 8 at the Philippine Women’s University.

The highlight of the week-long activities will be on Aug. 9 at the Century Park Hotel Ballroom. Manila Mayor Lito Atienza will be hosting Pista Sa Maynila with his wife. The culminating activity will be on Aug. 10, when the group will have a picnic at Villa Escudero in Quezon province.

Those interested in joining the events may call Lilia of the Bayanihan at 525-1685 and 536-86-02 for more information.