Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa
Ligaya Fernando | |
---|---|
Born | Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa October 9, 1942 San Juan, City of Greater Manila, Philippines |
Education | Far Eastern University |
Occupations |
|
Career | |
Current group | Tambuli Cultural Troupe Integrated Performing Arts Guild AlunAlun Dance Circle |
Dances | Pangalay |
Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa is a Filipino dancer and academic known for her studies and promotion of the pangalay dance tradition of the southern Philippines and is a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
She was nominated by former senator Miriam Defensor Santiago to be included in the list of National Living Treasures or Gawad Manlilika ng Bayan (GAMABA), the highest honor bestowed on individuals who have contributed immensely on indigenous culture and arts.[1]
Early life
Fernando-Amilbangsa was born in 1942.[2] She was born to a prominent Catholic political family in Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines[3] with her father being Gil Estanislao Fernando Sr. who served as Mayor of Marikina for several years and her brother Bayani Fernando who would also be head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Mayor of Marikina. Her mother, Remedios Flores Fernando, was a pianist.[2] She was part of a folk dance troupe at her school and took some lesson in ballet at age 8 or 9.[2] She also enjoyed dancing the boogie and rock 'n roll.[4]
She entered the Far Eastern University as an English major in 1959 where she also met her future husband.[2]
Works
Fernando-Amilbangsa visited in Sulu in 1969 where she saw a performance
For three the next three decades since her visit in Sulu, she studied the Muslim culture of the Southern part of the Philippines, particularly in the Sulu archipelago. She worked as an artist, cultural researcher, educator, and advocate of the locale's indigenous arts.[5]
Among her most significant involvements, is her research, conservation, practice and promotion of pangalay which is traditionally performed in festive events such as weddings.[5] It is characterized by its slow, intricate and hypnotic movements.[8]
In 1973 she moved to
She established the AlunAlun Dance Circle (ADC) in Atipolo[8] in 1999. Her own house served as a dance studio where pangalay and other traditional dances were taught and performed. The ADC has performed and organized workshops for at least a hundred times.[5] The Tambuli Cultural Troup also have performed with the ADC.[8]
Through her works, she has gained local and international recognition, including UNESCO and the International Dance Competition in Seoul in 1994, where her pangalay choreography won the silver award under the folk dance category.[8] Later, she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award on August 31, 2015.[3]
Personal life
Fernando-Amilbangsa was married to Datu Punjungan Amilbangsa, the young brother of Sultan Mohammad Amirul
References
- ^ "Miriam urges colleagues to nominate Wang-Od, Amilbangsa as 'National Living Treasures'". 2 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Caruncho, Eric (18 October 2015). "Ligaya Fernando Amilbangsa: Dancing to the rhythm of life". Inquirer Lifestyle. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Filipino wins Magsaysay award for work to save ancient dance". Sun Star Manila. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (November 29, 2016). "LIGAYA FERNANDO-AMILBANGSA: Her Joyful Gift Offering". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fernando-Amilbangsa, Ligaya | CITATION". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa is Ramon Magsaysay Awardee". 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Ligaya Fernando Amilbangsa: Dancing to the rhythm of life". Inquirer Lifestyle. 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
- ^ a b c d e Cepeda, Mara (5 September 2015). "Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa: Keeping culture alive through dance". Rappler. Retrieved 5 February 2016.