DANCE

1. Francisca Reyes Aquino

In 1920's, Francisca Reyes Aquino vigorously researched on the different folk dances of the
Philippines which made her the "Folk Dance Pioneer' of the country. Her research entitled
“Philippine Dances and Games" contains the country's unrecorded celebrations, folk dances, rituals,
and games. In 1940's, the Bureau of Education, where she served as the supervisor of physical
education, distributed her work for the teaching of folk dances in schools as a mean to promote our
cultural heritage to the Filipino students. Aside from her thesis, she has also published many books
regarding Philippine dances like Fundamental Dance Steps and Music, Gymnastic for Girls,
Philippine National Dances, Philippine Folk Dances Vol. I-VI, etc. Due to her valuable contribution in
the development of Filipino culture, former President Ramon Magsaysay awarded her the Republic
Award of Merit.
2. Ramon Obusan
Ramon Obusan promoted the Philippine ethnic dances and performed them with respect and
authenticity. He researched on the different Philippine ethnic groups throughout the country to
perfectly perform their dances. His presentations attempt to demonstrate the ethnic dances'
original routine and music. His Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, through their performances,
outreach works, and tours, inspired many Filipinos to embrace the Filipino culture. Some of his full-
length presentations are Kayaw '68, Kayaw '74, Vamos a Belen! Series, Noon Po Sa Amin,
Kasaysayan ng Lahi, Maynila, and the Rare and Unpublished Dances.

3. Alice Reyes
Alice Reyes' major and most significant contribution in the Philippine dance is the development of
unique Filipino modern dance idiom. She creatively interweaved Philippine ethnic dance, modern
dance, and ballet producing a one of a kind contemporary dance routine. She popularized
contemporary dance in the Philippines through her concerts, tours, outreach works and lecture
demonstrations in schools. Some of her major works are Amada, tales of the Manuyu, Bayanihan
Remembered, Rama Hari, and At a Maranaw Gathering.

4. Leonor Orosa Goquingco

Leonor Orosa Goquingco, also known as the “Trailblazer," “Mothern of Philippine Theater Dance',
and “Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics," significantly contributed to the progress of the
Philippine dance by developing distinct productions using balletic folkloric and Asian styles. For over
50 years, she produced various unique and original choreographies. Tagged as her most ambitious
work is the Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend, and Lore, a dance epic showing the Filipino culture
from pagan time to present that elevated the Philippine native folk dance to its highest level of
development
5. Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula
Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula studied the country's folk and ethnic dances for four decades and developed
ethnic choreographies applying her findings. She was the dance director of Bayanihan Philippine
Dance Company for three decades who choreographed various dances for the group. These dances
harvested overwhelming praises and good reviews from critics from different parts of the world.
Among her major works are cultural dances namely Singkil, Vinta, Tagabili, Pagdiwata, and Salisid.

6. Daisy Avellana
Daisy Avellana was the so-called First Lady of the Philippine Theater because of her magnificent
performances in classic Filipino and international theater productions and plays. Some of the
productions she significantly became part of were Othello, Macbeth in Black, Tatarin, Portrait of the
Artist as Filipino, Diego Silang, Walang Sugat, etc. She also popularized the Philippine theater and
dramatic arts by founding the Barangay Theater Guild with her husband, National Artist Lamberto
Avellana. They utilize the radio and television to make theater and dramatic arts are known to the
Filipinos.

7. Rolando Tinio
Rolando Tinio was an outstanding stage director, poet, thespian, and playwright known for his
numerous remarkable productions and notable scripts. Some of his works include film scripts for
Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, and Milagros, sarswelas like Ang Mestiza, and Ana Maria, and
komedya like Orosman at Zafira. He established and became the administrator of the Ateneo
Experimental Theater. He, later on, handled the Teatro Pilipino where he revived the sarswela and
other traditional Filipino drama and introduced contemporary western drama.Rolando Tinio is also
a National Artist for Literature aside from Theater.

8. Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero

Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero, being a theater teacher and artist, has mentored and trained many
performing artists for 35 years. He also introduced and popularized Philippine theater to different
parts of the country by establishing the UP Mobile Theater. The UP Mobile Theater has delivered
thousands of performances for 19 long years to many campuses in the Philippines. His major works
include Wanted: A Chaperon, Condemned, Perhaps, In Unity, Three Rats, The Forsaken House,
Frustrations, etc.

9. Honorata “Atang" dela Rama

Honorata “Atang” dela Rama started her theatrical career in an early age. At the age of seven, she
has already been a part of different Spanish zarzuelas. From then on, she played many roles in
numerous productions where she became popular and hailed as the Queen of Kundiman. She
performed kundiman and Filipino songs for indigenous communities all over the country. For her,
the kundiman and sarswelas mirrors the Filipino people. The sarsuelas she became part of are
Dalagang Bukid, Mascota, Marina, Pangarap ni Rosa, etc. The songs she popularized are Pakiusap,
Ay Kalisud, Madaling Araw, and Kung libig Ka. She sarswelas she wrote Puri at Bahay, Anak ni Eba,
and Aking Ina.

10. Salvador F. Bernal

Salvador Bernal was an exceptional theater designer who designed hundreds of theater productions
for a span of four decades. The superior quality of his designs made him incomparable to other
designers. He used local materials in producing creative and unique sets and costumes. Bernal was
also a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Ateneo De Manila University where
he shared his competencies to the aspiring young designers. Also, Bernal established the PATDAT
(Philippine Figure 45. Salvador F. Bernal Association of Theatre Designers and Technicians) in
1995topromote theater design. Moreover, he internationally introduced the Philippine theater design
through the Philippine Center of OISTAT (Organization Internationale des Scenographers,
Technicians et Architectes du Theatre).

11. Severino Montano

Severino Montano Hailed as the Titan of the Philippine Theater, Severino Montano took the lead in
promoting "legitimate theater" in the country. Montano was a topcaliber playwright, theater artist,
and director who took up degrees in and outside the country to master theater arts and later on to
share his learnings and competencies to the younger Filipino generation. He started his career and
education at the University of the Philippines where he studied education and became the head of the
UP Dramatic Club. His journey continued as he entered different universities in the United Sates like
American University, Yale University, and New York University. He became the dean of the
Philippine Normal College where he founded the Arena Theater in 1953. The Arena Theater served
the grassroots and promoted drama to the masses through school-community theaters. Also, Montano
developed graduate programs for theater arts in the PNC, which produced equally talented artists like
National Artists Lino Brocka and Rolando Tinio.