Philippine Society Comes Of Age

Boston College's longest running culture show exploded onto the Robsham stage with more strength and spirit than you could ever hope for from a campus culture club. The Philippine Society of BC (PSBC) marked its 18th annual show Saturday, celebrating, as its mission statement proclaims, "the beauty and richness of the Filipino culture." And the show certainly did not fall short of its intention – with exotic and wide-ranging dances, music, and visuals, the PSBC's performance successfully captured the diverse, vibrant, and venerable Filipino cultural tradition.

The show featured depictions of Filipino history, progressing from ancient tribal rituals to the modern hip hop phenomenon, with virtuosic talent and considerable flexibility. With every new act, the audience was treated to a variety of rich cultural dance, music, and dynamic costumes.

The first half of the performance showcased the ancient and energetic dances of the Filipino tribes and the influence of Muslim culture on the islands through dance and music. Ranging from the tantalizing "Kadal Tahaw," which coupled masculine strength and warrior-like bravery with feminine grace and beauty, to the sensual slave dance "Asik," passionately performed by Jillian Burdziak, A&S '10, the tribal dances were lavishly presented amid the bold backdrop of the Philippine jungle. Accompanied by piping flutes and tropical drums, the energy incessantly picked up, slowed down, and continually teased the audience's expectations.

Certainly the most spectacular dance of the first act, or perhaps of the entire show, was the impressive tribal dance "Singkil." This dance recounts the epic legend of Princess Gandingan and was elegantly performed by Melissa Flores, A&S '10,  as she wanders through a forest of fallen bamboo trees. Opulently dressed in gorgeous jewels and royal garments, Flores displayed considerable coordination as she hopped between the bamboo branches, which tapped the ground to the beat of the music. "Singkil" involved the entire troupe of dancers, and with its playful stomping and impressive maneuverings, revealed the dedication and hard work that the students put into the show.

After a brief intermission, the performers returned with some Spanish flair. The cultural consequences of Spanish involvement in the Philippines came through in the many European elements in this dance. The swooshy white dresses, guitars and basses, and formal attire worn by the men were a stark contrast to the tribal dress and music. Yet, these differences are not condemned, but rather celebrated, as they add even more texture and richness to the Filipino culture and tradition. The Filipinos embrace the Spanish culture and beautifully display it to its fullest.

In addition to the Spanish dance, the audience was treated to a guest appearance from the IP Rondalla, a local non-profit organization founded by local parents to help their their children to learn about their Filipino heritage. The IP Rondella arrived with a group of musicians that spanned multiple generations and played multiple musical instruments. Cute little kids skipped around the stage as their distinguished elders strummed their Spanish guitars, all of which enhanced the show's authenticity.
The next stage of the show revealed the rich tradition of the rural and peasant add flair and force, the dancers hop, jump, and pounce with pure verve and vitality. During the dance called the "Tinikling," which is the national dance of the Philippines, it was very noticeable that the dancers were proud of their culture and that they were celebrating it with the audience.

The final dance served as a grand finale, since it concludes the performance with a fusion of the past and present of the Filipino and American cultures, by mixing it with modern hip-hop. This powerful final scene harnessed all of the previous dances and cultures and blended them into a spectacular performance. With bamboo sticks, Spanish dress, and hip-hop rhythm, this closing segment celebrated the Filipino culture, in all its expansive glory and rich tradition.

The entire show was run through with the story of a debutante, an eighteen-year-old girl who stood in for the history of the PSBC culture show itself. Throughout the various dances and other performances, there were additional skits that tell the story of a girl preparing for her debut. This theme of a "coming out" and celebration is very fitting for this cultural show.

On its 18th anniversary of the show, the PSBC created a performance that had all the features of a debutant – her confidence, sexiness, and desire to be revealed to the world. Between the tribal warrior scenes, the booming drums, the authentic instruments, the vibrant costumes, the infusion of Muslim and Spanish cultures, and the enigmatic dances, the entire PSBC performance beamed with "beauty and richness." Well done, PSBC. The hard work certainly paid off.