50 illustrious years of Bayanihan

Once a Bayanihan, always a Bayanihan.”

That has somewhat become the mantra of all those who were involved with the world-renowned Bayanihan Dance Group, the Philippine national folk dance company, which recently celebrated its golden anniversary. After all, the Bayanihan has not only become a prestigious, if not enviable tag. It is, for its members, a discipline, an education and a lifetime experience.

Starting from a mere dance group entertaining tourists and guests at the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) in 1957, the Bayanihan has played an important role in Philippine history by taking our native dances and bringing them onto the world stage for all to see. The dancers have become the country’s best-known cultural ambassadors and its alumni, among our most distinguished citizens.

Bursting into the international scene with its acclaimed performance at the Brussels Universal Exposition in 1958, when they were asked by then President Carlos P. Garcia to represent the Philippines, the Bayanihan became a worldwide cultural sensation. Lladro even created a limited edition “Singkil” porcelain figurine, after one of the owners watched the Brussels performance, with the first Singkil princess Rosalinda Anido-Gomez.

The group conquered sophisticated global audiences, as the Bayanihan promoted the best of Philippine culture and traditions through music and dances. Earning critical acclaim and raves worldwide, they held the audience spellbound and enthralled the world with their talent and artistry.

From Brussels, then legendary host Ed Sullivan taped a Bayanihan show and aired it on US television. Sol Hurok, then the leading world impresario, saw the Singkil performance and lost no time in booking Bayanihan that same year at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theater. Their show ran for three months and even had its own playbill. They were called the “Cinderella of Broadway.”

“We were in Broadway ahead of Lea Salonga,” beams Bayanihan Alumni Association president Chary Lagdameo. “After Broadway, the rest is history. We toured 67 cities in the US. When we came home, we had a ticker-tape parade from Escolta around Manila. It was similar to Manny Pacquiao coming home from a victorious boxing match abroad.”

In Israel, the Bayanihan merited a standing ovation, eclipsing the performance of the late crooner Frank Sinatra. Former Indonesian President Sukarno personally invited the Bayanihan to perform for one of his palace events.

“There’s nothing compared to the experience, the lessons we learned and the people we met,” says US-based Joji Ramirez-Castro, who put up the Philippine American Society and Cultural Arts Troupe in San Diego. “The Bayanihan opened doors for us. Whatever I learned from the Bayanihan, I brought it with me to the US.”

In 1997, then President Fidel Ramos named the Bayanihan as the national dance company. Former President Joseph Estrada issued Executive Order No. 138, declaring May 27 of every year as Bayanihan Day, “to commemorate the triumph in Brussels and inculcate in our people the Bayanihan spirit of working together as a people.”

Early this month, the Bayanihan celebrated its golden anniversary with color and gaiety befitting its illustrious history. At the helm of the 50th anniversary celebration was Lagdameo, who started gathering materials for the big event and getting in touch with former members as early as three years ago.

“I started inviting alumni who are based abroad to come home in time for the 50th anniversary,” Lagdameo shares. “At least we’re still around to enjoy it, and it was good to see old members again. Those who are based abroad had a good reason to come home.”

She was successful in organizing the grand homecoming, held last Oct. 13 at Crowne Plaza Hotel. Close to 400 alumni from all over the world attended the event, with a glittering list headed by Bayanihan founder Ambassador Helena Z. Benitez; Bayanihan USA founder and chairperson Chona Gentelizo; Alumni Homecoming Executive Committee chairman Tony Fabella; Bayanihan USA Alumni Association president Joey Omila and choreographer emeritus Chito Grajo.

Lagdameo was assisted by officers Erlyn Campos, Carmen Liwanag, Evelyn Escudero, Rosky Hilado, Toffee Ardiente, Ruby Benitez, Maribel Dario, Lynda Gomez, Bobby Roces, Agnes Javier, Celia de Guia, Roy Azarcon, and the various alumni committee heads — Madeleine Balagtas-Tuviera, Jessica de Leon, Leo Ona, Myrna Carino Verecio, Enya Gabor Santillan, and Annabelle Ramos Lopez.

The gala ceremony was preceded by the performance of Ramon Obusan Fokloric Group’s own Putungan dance, choreographed by the late National Artist for Dance Ramon Obusan, a Bayanihan alumni. The dance company’s illustrious ranks count two other Philippine National Artists — Lucrecia R. Kasilag (music) and Lucrecia R. Urtula (dance). They and other Bayanihan members who have passed away were honored and celebrated with an audio-visual presentation, “Departed Friends.” This was followed by a kaleidoscope of the best, well-loved suites called “Glimpses of Bayanihan’s Golden Dances,” re-choreographed and performed by the alumni in honor of Lucrecia R. Urtula.

APT Entertainment produced a special audio-visual presentation that chronicled Bayanihan’s 50 years. Host for the evening was award-winning broadcaster Che-Che Lazaro who, together with her two sisters — Vicky Lim and Nina Lim-Yuzon — was also Bayanihan alumni.

One of the highlights of the celebration was the rigodon de honor, danced by 16 pairs of Bayanihan alumni headed by Singkil princess Lynda Gomez. The evening was capped with awards presented to the prime movers of the golden anniversary celebration.

Through the years, the Bayanihan has become a family affair. Lynda’s three children, for instance, followed in her footsteps and became Bayanihan dancers, too.

“The Bayanihan has really influenced our lives,” Lynda attests. “Even if you became famous or you became just a simple housewife, you carry the discipline you got from the Bayanihan. Even the values we learned from the Bayanihan we passed on to our children.”

Among Bayanihan’s distinguished members are Lovely Tecson-Romulo, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, concert producer Francis Lumen, dance luminaries Eddie Elejar and Tony Fabella, beauty queen Peachy Veneracion, interior designer Edith Oliveros, and choreographer Lito Calzado.

The present batch of dancers continues to surge to the crest of cultural and theatrical artistry. They awe audiences wherever they go, ever mindful and guided by the Bayanihan spirit of working together for a common cause. “We, the alumni, will always support the mother company,” Lagdameo states.

Although prestigious, being part of the famous dance troupe had its sacrifices, too. “We had to stop schooling,” recalls Lynda. “We had to be dormed where we were taught manners and style by Conchitina Bernardo. We had to learn at least one foreign language. We had to keep abreast with Oriental history. We had to consistently know protocol, social graces, proper dressing in different season, upbringing and decorum.”

To pass the auditions alone “was like going through the eye of a needle,” according to Lagdameo. The members also had to maintain a certain weight, otherwise they would be fined. “During rehearsals, one person’s job was to give us vitamins and watch out if we were putting on weight,” Lagdameo shares.

But everyone says they will not trade their Bayanihan experience for anything. “It’s something that you don’t learn in books, something you will never forget,” Lagdameo allows. “I organized the 50th anniversary celebration because I want every member to remember the glory of the Bayanihan, the friendship, the bonding. We have to continue the Bayanihan legacy and spirit as we start our journey to our centennial.”