Asociacion Negrense wins Best Costume and Best Participation Award in Toronto  PIDC-Mabuhay Parade

By Edwin Mercurio
Toronto-Canada
September 5, 2015



Toronto – Asociacion Negrense’s Cultural Committee Chair Nisa Dequito Aliko teaches dancing for Filipinos and Latinos on her free time and performs in many public events. With a lively and amicably pleasant personality she readily smiles when you meet her in many social gatherings her dance group performs.

Last Saturday was different, though, after her group won the award. She was beaming and excitedly dancing on their way to the stage, when she and her coterie of Asociacion Negrense dancers wearing a mix of T’boli, B’laan, Manobo and Muslim costume designed by Rene Salud won the Best Costume Award and Trophy at the Metro Hall’s David Pecaut Park in Toronto.

The award was a fitting tribute to Nisa, Lorie Bajala and many others, who for many years gather together at the Flemingdon Community Centre in North York to practice dancing without the benefit of any cultural grants from any sources.
These days, I saw a vibrant Nisa who just recovered from the passing away of her beloved sister, full of hope that her group will continue to grow and flourish under the new leadership of Asociacon Negrense.
Nisa and her group is the epitome of energy and vitality for the association’s cultural dancers. A retired government employee, she juggles her time babysitting her young grand child and teaching dance lessons during her free time at home and the community Centre.

Nisa is joined by Aileen Parcon, a young woman who came from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental,the other half of Negros Islands. Aileen, migrated to Canada in the hope of sponsoring her young son after losing her husband and father-in-law in a home electrical accident which nearly killed her too. Desperate after being duped by an employment agency from the Philippines, with no community organization from Negros Oriental,she finds support and solace in the company of Nisa’s  Asociacion Negrense’s dance group. Aileen has been designated by the association’s Board of Directors as the Vice President for Negros Oriental while Jethro Britanico was officially elected Vice President in charge of Negros Occidental.  Asociacion Negrense, plans torecruit and expand their membership covering the whole Negros (Island) Region.

Asociacion Negrense will hold the Induction of Officers - Dinner and Dance this coming October 3, 2015 at the Flemingdon Community Centre, 29 St.Dennis Drive, North York near the Ontario Science Centre.