SFA-AGR-294-08

FOLKLORICO FILIPINO CANADA DANCE COMPANY DRAWS RAVES

FROM CANADIAN, INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE

30 April 2008 - In line with its efforts to promote Philippine culture, the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa arranged the participation of the Folklorico Filipino Canada dance company to represent the Philippines in the 6th Annual Asian Heritage Month Gala Concert held at the Theatre of the Canadian Museum of Civilization on 26 April.

The concert, sponsored by the Asian Heritage Month Society, was a cultural fusion that brought together the traditional and contemporary featuring many exceptional Asian Canadian performers.

The event showcased ten performing groups from across the pan-Asian spectrum.  Aside from Toronto’s world renowned Folklorico Filipino Canada, performers included the veteran Chinese Beijing Opera singer William Lau; the jazzy South Asian sound of guitarist Adam Duncan, accompanied by saxophonist Linsey Wellman and Tabla musician Ravi Singh; the renowned Montreal Er Hu artist, Shen Qui, with the accomplished cellist Luo Di; the Upasana School of Dance, featuring contemporary classical Indian dance; Japanese Soprano Noriko Hashimoto; the Indonesian Gamelan music ensemble with a Javanese dance troupe; traditional Korean dancer Jayoon Jung;  Toronto’s Folklorico Filipino Canada; Pakistani raag malkauns music ensemble, and Vietnamese singer Ivy O.

Senator Vivienne Poy together with Canadian government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps and members of various Asian communities applauded the excellent performance of the Folklorico Filipino Canada and congratulated Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose S. Brillantes together with Consul Shirley E. Banquicio and a proud Philippine Embassy staff who were special guests in the audience.

The Toronto based Folklorico Filipino Canada has been entertaining Canadian and international audiences for 34 years. In 1973, a small group of Filipino immigrants formed the dance company to showcase Filipino culture.  The innovative style of Folklorico Filipino, modernizing the Philippine folk dance culture, has made them distinct and recognized worldwide.

The company’s mission is to research and preserve the indigenous Philippine art forms in costumes, forlklore; and to promote international goodwill through performances in Canada and abroad. The company has performed in Poland, Ukraine, France, Spain, Mexico, Estonia and Bulgaria. It is a multi-awarded dance company nationally and internationally.

The Embassy hosted the seventeen-member Folklorico Filipino Canada at the Travel Lodge Hotel, Ottawa East.  Ambassador Brillantes thanked the group with a breakfast get-together the following morning at the Official Residence, Tahanang Rizal.  Embassy staff attended to the Folklorico Filipino Canada during their performance as well as their stay. END

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