The Filam Heritage Dance Ensemble, the Ultimate Eskrima Int’l and volunteers of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) , Inc. demonstrated and taught the Philippine national dance "Tinikling" the audience at last month's 4th Annual Asian Festival in Reston, Virginia. MHC’s Philippine Interactive Cultural tent was provided by the Thai Tennis Organization of America/USTA. Many in the audience tried their skill in hopping and skipping gracefully in between the fast clicking two long bamboo poles.
Filams
were also given the opportunity by the organizers to attend any of
the two time slots at the VIP tent, one hour (3-4 p.m.) hosted
by the PAFC and three hours (6-9 p.m.) jointly hosted by the NAAAP
and the Asia Heritage Foundation.
The
MHC Philippine Interactive tent was adorned with colorful crafts from
the Mountain province/Cordillera Suite, tourist destination posters,
ati-atihan mardi gras masks, banderitas, vinta and
sambulayan. The tent also provided the visitors a
chance to play the indigenous musical instruments of “kulintang”
and the “gong” from Southern Philippines as
well as learning Filipino martial arts of Eskrima or stick
fighting from the Ultimate Eskrima International, Inc.
MHC,
a non profit 501 © 3 tax exempt organization, spearheaded Fil-Am
community’s whole day cultural participation at the 2007 Asian
Festival under MHC’s program of Cultural Resource and Support for
all high profiled and significant cultural events.
“Like
any other grouping, MHC wants to make a difference not only in
helping the migrants but also by spreading Philippine goodwill
through Tinikling and other cultural medium”, said Ms.
Grace Valera-Jaramillo, ex-Philippine embassy officer and now MHC’s
director/adviser for Cultural Resource Program.
