Harvest

“Masaganang Ani”

Gala 2009 – Review

With each new year comes a new season of growth and the chance for new life. The story of the harvest is a story of cycle    of life; from one small seed spurs a brilliance of life that has the opportunity to nourish and replenish the soul. 

This is the story of Masaganang Ani – the Harvest. 

This years Gala, despite the situation in our country now, was very befitting in that our theme was one of hope and one of remembrance of the bounty of our rich heritage and culture. It showed us the importance to preserve and nurture it, through good and bad times.

Our emcees, Mrs. Jane Rolen (who has emceed our event more than anyone else), and Mr. Charlie Rice, started the show, as is the tradition by the National Anthems. ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, sung this year by Miss Alyssa Marucut alongside our flag bearer, Mr.Blaine Crockford. Following the US National Anthem was ‘Lupang Hinirang’, sung by our association songbird, Mrs. Empie Higgins alongside the Philippine flag bearer, our President, Mr. Brian Rodriguez.

Following this was the introduction of our association leaders, the Officers of FAC-WNC 2009:  President – Mr. Brian J Rodriguez; Vice-President – Mr. Charlie Rice; Secretary – Mrs. Marilou V Marucut; Treasurer – Mrs. Fermina Fallesgon and Auditor – Mr. Laddie Armena.  Board of Directors – Mr. and Mrs. Rick and Virginia Rodriguez, Mr. Rem Navarro, Mrs. Jane Rolen, and Mr. Arnel S Marucut. 

This was followed by a lovely prayer by Mrs. Virginia Eldreth blessing the food, the attendees, as the dancers for a good show. 

After dinner was concluded, our President, Mr. Brian Rodriguez, welcomed the audience and had a few opening remarks to get the show started. This lead right into what everyone was waiting for – the Cultural Presentation. 

Our Veteran Dancers opened up the show with an exciting Opening Number, a Kalatong/Bulaklakan Medley full of brightly colored ribbons, wreaths of beautiful flowers, and festive costumes. The music was exciting and thrilling, and it was the perfect way to open up the show.  Kalatong, named after the three-foot bamboo tied around the waist, is beaten in fast rhythm to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits from the crops. Bulaklakan – meaning flower is a dance held in the month of May each year featuring a garland of leaves and flowers to celebrate ‘Santa Cruz de Mayo’. 

Following the opening number came our first set of dances by our children. Truly, the seeds of our culture have taken root in our children, as year after year this group continues to grow and grow, taking our cultural dances and making our community very proud. 

Pasigin was our fisherman’s dance – celebrating the harvest and catching of fish for the family. Two of our boys showed off their boating skills with a real boat! As the two in the boat were on the lookout for fish, our other fishermen prepared their nets for the harvest of fish. Our girls then took the stage, twirling around in mermaid like gowns, shimmering through the evening light. It was a game of catch as the fishermen tried to catch the beautiful fish. In the end, they were successful catching all the fish!

Following in the tradition of the celebration of harvest, there is a time for entertainment and the fruits of love and affection. Zamboanga, named after the song by Juan Cuadrado, a Spaniard who after staying in Zamboanga, fell in love with the area, and a local beauty to whom he dedicated the song. Our women, donning orange and green gowns with fragrant flowers in their hair, were introduced by our dashing men in white barongs. A lively and elegant dance, our dancers showed off their charm and musicality with this number.

Our second set of children, our all girl group, took the stage next. Our scene stealers, this group of young girls have spent many weekends perfecting this dance.  Kalapati is a dance that  peace by imitating the movements of a graceful dove.  The beautiful dove is a breath of air that invigorates us all to take a moment to appreciate that which we do have, and gives us hope for good days ahead. Our little girls embodied this spirit in beautiful white gowns, and even adorned with light and airy feathers. They defiantly did a fantastic job, flapping their wings, and mimicking the delightful movements of the dove.  They gave us a glimmer of hope and embody the symbol of peace. 

La Jota Moncadena, a Spanish influenced dance, showcased the Spanish ‘Senoritas’ and ‘Caballeros’. With the rhythmic clicking of bamboo castanets, elegant Maria Clara gowns in regal jewel tones, crisp white barongs, and the stepping of our dancers’ heels against the floor showcased the dancers’ prowess at quick and exciting steps. This particular la Jota was named after Moncada, Tarlac, part of the rice-belt of the Philippines, known for its cooking and bountiful harvests. 

Next was the national dance, a dance performed at every Gala, the crowd-pleasing, Tinikling.  Tinikling, imitating the movement of the ‘tikling’ birds maneuvering through tree branches and bamboo traps set by rice farmers, was a display of lovely colors, excitement, and acrobatic skill. Our dancers showed their agility and grace as they danced between the clacking of bamboo poles. The thrill and excitement was when three of our male dancers put on a spectacular show when they blindfolded themselves as the music continued to increase in tempo, getting faster and faster. 

To conclude the show came the Sinulog – a pageantry of faith, it is a festival held in honor of the Santo Nino and of the bountiful harvests of the people. It pays homage to the Christ Child for the many blessings and food the harvest brings.  It was a perfect way to end the show, full of color and costumes and the infection drumbeat to welcome the Santo Nino as it was carried by our Reyna.

Our dancers did us very proud this year. While we celebrate the harvest and the bounty of our homeland, it is the seed that we plant in each of our children that carry on the traditions of the Philippines. It is our children who are our bounty, who are our harvest.

As we say goodbye to one more year, let us not forget the harvest that we create in our own lives. One of nurture and care, one of bounty and of generosity and giving.  That of peace and sharing of love.  It is our harvest here each year that we celebrate through music, through art, through dance, that allow us to continue as a community, preserving and enriching our children through our Filipino heritage. 

Thank you all who attended this year’s event. A big thank you to the FAC-WNC Cultural Dance Troupe. Thank you to all our Committee Chairs and Members and the countless volunteers who helped make this years Gala such a success. 

See you next year!