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By Bella Balisi Bevilacqua
August 18, 2023, Friday, 7PM-9PM was no ordinary day for the Filipino community, especially the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in British Columbia. The 9th Season of “Balagtasan, Kundiman, Harana, Tula, at Sayawan '' was held at the Praise International Church in Surrey, BC, and was attended by an audience of more than a hundred strong. The show is an annual event hosted for free admission by the UPAABC, in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. Program opened with the Himig Kabataan’s rendition of both Canada’s and the Philippines’ National Anthems, Welcome Remarks by UPAABC President Bella Balisi Bevilacqua, and Consul Erika Abad on behalf of Consul-General Arlene Magno. |
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Line of performances included UP alumnus Cliff Belgica’s Ivadoi Bendian Dance - a traditional Cordillera tribal war dance, Ikaw and Rosas ng Pandan (Harana/Kundiman) by Himig Kabataan, and the timeless traditional dance numbers of PCG to the tune of Alitaptap and Binatbatan. (“Binatbatan” is an Ilocano occupational folk dance translating the old, painstaking process of weaving “abel”, the Ilocano’s indigenous woven cloth.) Former UP Diliman Professor Veronica Caparas recited her original historical narrative poetry with the title, “Wika Mo, Wika Niya, Wika Ko… Anong Wika Yan?”.
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