This is our second year to visit the darling little town of Angadanan's Fiesta street dancing competition. Last year there were 5 schools competing. This year all of the competitors dropped out except for one school from Alicia. So we were a little disappointed to hear that but their dance was so spectacular that it was worth the trip. They depicted the complete growing season of rice in a wonderful dance. In the end they were awarded the grand prize of 100,000 pesos or around $2,000 US. (To put that in perspective it would take an average blue collar worker close to 2 years to earn that amount of money here.)
Angadanan's mayor is a most wonderful woman. She and I both spoke at a Celebration of the Family last year. We were seated next to each other during the program and enjoyed visiting. I loved her remarks and how much she believed faith makes strong families.
When she saw us she ushered us up to her viewing area, which was air conditioned. (The weather this past week has been unbearably HOT.) Then she introduced us over the PA system to the crowd that had gathered. Afterwards she invited us to come to her office for merienda (snacks) and then invited us to come to her home for dinner that night and to watch a cultural indigenous people's dance festival. We probably would have taken her up on it but the dance festival wasn't going to start until 8 pm and probably go on until midnight we knew we couldn't stay up that late.
Talk about making visitors feel welcome!
The event began with a parade as the dancers walked through the town.
The students design their own costumes, and choreograph the dance.
They make their own back drops and other props.
Everything was perfectly synchronized. I wonder how many hours they practiced.
Their performance really was worthy of Grand Prize with or without other competition.
The Regional Director of Tourism poses with the wonderful Mayor. (Mayor is in yellow.)
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