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A VIEW TO PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINE HISTORY, ARTS AND CULTURE TALKS: “EMBODIED AND EMBODYING RESEARCH THROUGH THE YEARS: THE ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL, PHILIPPINE FOLK DANCE AND DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING”
2021-08-10
PR-2021-43
6 August 2021, Toronto, Ontario – Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles and Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined and participated in the second part of the Canada-wide online discussion on Pre-Colonial Philippine History, Arts and Culture organized and presented by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto (UPAAT) Education and Awareness Committee. The online event was held on 5 August 2021 at 8:00 pm (Toronto time) via Zoom.
The webinar is one of the Consulate General’s Filipino community events for the 2021 QCP and also a continuation of UPAAT’s event contribution to the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (2021 QCP) in Toronto and around the world. The event is the second partnership between the Consulate General and the UPAAT. The first collaboration was the initial Culture and History Talk held on 25 March 2021. The series of talks by renowned Filipino public historians, artists and scholars aim to promote the richness of Philippine heritage and culture from pre-colonial times and its continuing evolution through present times.
UPAAT President Ms. Agnes Manasan welcomed the participants to the webinar. Consul General Castro introduced the Guest Speaker of the event, Philippine Ambassador to Canada Rodolfo D. Robles. Ambassador Robles delivered his Special Greetings to the participants.
Dr. Patrick Alcedo, an alumnus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Chair of the Department of Dance at York University in Canada and leading scholar and ethnographer on Philippine traditional dances, was the Lecturer and Presentor of the UPAAT webinar. Dr. Alcedo spoke of his researches on the Ati-atihan festival, Philippine folk dance, as well as his documentary filmmaking. His latest film “They Call Me Dax”, a short documentary on a 15-year-old student trying to survive as a ballet dancer, recently received the 2021 Best Short Documentary from the Cannes Indies Cinema Awards.
Being a native of Andagao, Aklan, Dr. Alcedo grew up dancing in the Ati-atihan festival in Kalibo. Dr. Alcedo’s documentary film, “Ati-atihan Lives” is a product of his research on the lives of people who are devotees of this annual feast. It is known that every third week of January residents of Kalibo celebrate with their visitors the Ati-atihan (“to imitate Ati”) festival to honor both the indigenous Atis (local name of the Aeta people) and the Holy Child Jesus (otherwise known as the Sto. Niño).
Dr. Alcedo also lectured on his passion for Philippine folk dances. He was born in a family of dancers and musicians and his mother, a piano teacher, is one of his inspirations. As a dance artist, he directed “Luzviminda: the Philippines Dances for Canada150”, a concert that filled York University’s Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre to capacity from 16 to 18 October 2021 and received a standing ovation.
The final part of Dr. Alcedo’s presentation discussed his love for documentaries, which started in 2009. His first documentary film was “Boxing in the Shadow of Pacquiao”, which was cited in The New York Times. Todate, he has directed, written, and produced nine films – “Ati-atihan Lives”, “A Piece of Paradise“ (his first feature length documentary which received the first back-to-back win in the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival’s 20-year history), “Dancing Manilenyos”, “They Call Me Dax”, “A Will to Dream” and “Am I Being Selfish”, among others. Trailers of these films were presented shown during the lecture, including “Am I Being Selfish” which world-premiered during the lecture.
Dr. Alcedo believes that dance and documentaries have a unique connection. His documentary films complement his written publications and are invaluable to his teaching and promotion of Filipino expressive culture.
A Q&A, moderated by Ms. Helen Balderama and Philippine Senior Trade Commissioner Maria Roseni Alvero, followed after the talk. UPAAT President Manasan thanked Ambassador Robles and Consul General Castro for gracing the event. A Certificate of Appreciation was presented by Ms. Manasan to Dr. Alcedo for the very informative lecture and presentation. She expressed her wish that the young generation of Filipinos and Filipino Canadians would follow his footsteps. Consul General Castro also took the opportunity to present the Consul General’s Quincentennial Award to UPAAT for its invaluable effort and activities to foster unity among the Filipino Community and for the continued support to the Consulate General. A photo of the handing-over of the Quincentennial Award to Dr. Alcedo, held at the Consulate General on 9 July 2021, was also shown.
The webinar was officially closed by Dr. Mayrose Salvador, Chair of the UPAAT Education and Awareness Committee. She thanked Dr. Alcedo for the amazing presentation which allowed the participants to appreciate the richness and diversity of Philippine heritage, culture and arts. She also invited everyone to the next Summer Talk on “Food in Identity – A Shortened Story of Philippine Branding”, which will be presented by Mrs. Felice Sta. Maria on 26 August 2021. – END