Folkloric dance travelogue applaused at the PNB Ball in NSW-Australia

By: Marilie Bomediano-Eftekharhashtroudi
Photos courtesy of Bob Reyes
NSW-Australia
July 15, 2015



Patriotism rekindled as local talents enthralled our kababayans  and multicultural guests with   an array of colourful native dance travelogue depicting  the Philippines islands’ early  pre-hispanic  era inhabitants’ culture at  the  PCC-NSW’s PNB  Ball, last June 12 at Rosehill Garden’s Grand Pavillion.

 “The Filipino-Australian community has grown significantly since the early 1900s when some 700 Philippine-born people were living in Australia. Over 170,000 Philippines-born people now call Australia home and they continue to greatly enrich our nation.

“Australia and the Philippines have an enduring friendship, underpinned by our trade, education and people-to-people links.  In 2013-14, our trade was worth almost $4 billion and some 9,000 Filipino students were studying in Australia,  PM Abbot’s explains his message.

The Australian Cordillerans performed the indigenous Austonesian tribal -ritual dance that has survived to this day among certain groups as the Igorots  in the North that blended with the Malayan culture under the colony state ruler King  Raja Sulayman III (1558-1575).  

The Philippine Dance Ensemble followed with their Surtida de Cebuano dance traditional culture that flourished even more during the hispanic era after the rulings of Malayan King Rajah Humabon of  Visayas .

The Visayan and Mindanao Multicultural Association also performed a muslim favourite Singkil (Sayaw sa Singkil), a famous Ramayana hindu folklore dance of the Maranao people of Lake Lanao during the  south’s Sultan of Sulu rulers’ time.

Presentations from former PCC-NSW Presidents and the traditional Rigodon de Honor by the PCC-NSw 2015 Board and affiliates was gracefully executed that also entertained the members, affiliates and honorary guests  including  John Ajaka MLC, Minister for Ageing and Multiculturalism, who spoke of the Filipinos contribution in adding more colors and texture to Australia’s multicultural fabric.

PCC-NSWs has chosen “Ang Aral ng Kasaysayan... Panuntunan sa Kinabukasan, Wisdom of our History...Guide to our Destiny as its theme for this year’s independence day celebrations headed by incumbent president Evelyn Beed. (end)
Editors Notes: Other honoraries were Luke Foley, Leader of the Opposition NSW  Labor, Edmond Atalla, Federal Member for Mt Druitt NSW Labor,   Michelle Rowland, Federal  for Greenway , Prue Car, Member for Londonberry, Kevin Connely, Federal Member for Riverstone, Hugh McDermott, Federal Member for Prospect, Julia Finn Federal Member for Granville, Senator Greg Donnelly MLC and  Senator Sam Dastyari.

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SYNOPSIS OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Pre-Spanish Times
There are two theories on the origins of the first Filipinos, the inhabitants of what will later be called the Philippine Islands and eventually the Republic of the Philippines. See the Early Inhabitants of the Philippine Islands.

In the beginning of the 3rd century, the inhabitants of Luzon island were in contact and trading with East Asian sea-farers and merchants including the Chinese. In the 1400's the Japanese also established a trading post at Aparri in Northern Luzon.

In 1380, Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago and established settlements which became mini-states ruled by a Datu. They introduced Islam in the southern parts of the archipelago including some parts of Luzon and were under the control of the Muslim sultans of Borneo. They had a significant influence over the region for a couple of hundreds years. The Malay Muslims remained dominant in these parts until the 16th century.
http://www.philippine-history.org/