Celebrating seven decades of
REMEMBERING
The Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe
From the early days at the Philippine Normal College, Manila, where it all began as a mixed dance class, 1946
how it all began
Originally 'baranggay' meant boats used by the Malays arriving in the shores of the Philippines during the pre-Spanish times. Later, the name came to connote the unit of government known as the 'Pueblo'. The word 'baranggay', with it's connotation of friendly association and harmonious living was adopted by the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PB) to reflect it's objectives of developing the physical, mental and social life of the individual through the cooperative effort of the members.
For the past seven decades years the PB have traveled to the different stages of the world across Asia, Europe and North America, providing a window to the complex and culturally rich history of the Philippines.
The troupe continues to research, preserve and showcase the diverse multi-cultural Philippine life, with its customs, traditions, various religions, depicting the gaiety and friendliness of its people through its performances of the native arts in their authentic form. The folk-like and unaffected atmosphere of the performances have won the world over as they present the story of the Philippines through a panorama of songs, dances and music.
The troupe has received many citations and awards both nationally and internationally. The most prestigious of these is the Philippine Presidential Medal of Merit Award ‘Patnubay ng Kalinangan sa Sayaw’ (1971)—a truly distinguished award of recognition for the important contribution the troupe is making to its home country.
Through the pioneering leadership of the founding Artistic Director—the late Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, awardee of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining at Sayaw (1990), Philippine Centennial Awards (1999) and the Gintong BAI Awards (2005)—the PB continues to excel as one of the leading dance companies in the Philippines. With the PB playing an important role in folk dance education, with most of its members being teachers and educators, the group has had a significant impact on the development of the Filipino youth’s values in appreciation of their own culture, arts and traditions, particularly folk/traditional dance and music.
The PB have traveled to Russia's Red Square, climbed the Great Wall of China, visited the land down under in Australia, crossed the Berlin Wall and basked in the shadows of London's Big Ben and Paris' Eiffel Tower while criss-crossing all of Europe, danced on the stages of Las Vegas and Broadway and performed alongside Mickey Mouse in Disneyland.
Inspired and guided by the ‘Baranggay Spirit’ and discipline, members and alumni have organized folk dance groups in their respective schools/universities and communities worldwide., with the continued support of the mother company under the leadership of the Director of Administration Mr. Eugenio C. Ticzon, or ‘Kuya Eugene’ as he is fondly called. Indeed, the PB has expanded a thousand folds in its 65 years of existence—the longest running folk dance group in the country—and it will continue to expand to be to attain its mission of educating the Filipino youth towards appreciation, preservation and promotion of their Philippine cultural heritage.
During the Baranggay dancers Batch 62's Oathtaking with Dr Francisca R Aquino (National Artist in Dance) at Philippine Normal University
Successful show in New Zealand, Philippine Embassy Gala Show June 2014
Mabuhay ang Pilipino!
PBs missions is to preserve and showcase the Filipino diverse multicultural ways of life, customs, traditions, religions, as well as the gaiety and friendliness of the people through performance of native arts in their authentic form.