MAY 2015 PRESS RELEASE

PACE-MI LAUNCHES ITS FIRST ANNUAL PHILIPPINE CULTURAL PRESENTATION

By Rose V. Ignacio

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – The Philippine Arts and Culture Ensemble of Michigan (PACE-MI) will launch its first annual Philippine cultural presentation on June 20, 2015, 6:30pm at St. Francis Church Parish Activity Center.  This event entitled Ugnayan ng Ating Kultura (Linkages of Our Culture) is a celebration of Philippine traditional music, songs, and dances featuring members of PACE-MI with special participation of Filipino-American artists.

The program will showcase PACE-MI’s ensembles, namely, Kulintang, Rondalla, and Folk Dance.  The Kulintang ensemble will perform music and dances from southern Philippines, with Kulintang music Duyug, Kanduro Pampang,Binalig, and Badbad and ethnic dances Asik and Singkil.  The Rondalla ensemble will entertain the audience withBahay Kubo, Dandansoy, O Ilaw, Naranyag A Bulan, and Leron Leron Sinta.  The Folk Dance ensemble will present native dances Salakot, Itik-Itik, Sayaw Sa Banko, Carinosa, and Tinikling, with live Rondalla ensemble music.

Featured Filipino-American artists will include Dr. Christi-Anne Castro, associate professor of ethnomusicology and director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) at the University of Michigan. Dr. Castro, main Rondalla instructor for PACE-MI, will perform with the Rondalla ensemble.  Elizabeth Ordinario Weil, lyric soprano and Kulintang program director, will sing Diwata ng Pag-Ibig and Lulay.  Roy Coloma, concert pianist and long-time piano teacher, will perform Buencamino's Inday and Damdamin on the piano while Patricia Sorra Cabuena, cantor and choir member at St. Francis Church, will render a vocal solo of Sa Ugoy ng Duyan.    

PACE-MI is a non-profit organization based in Ann Arbor whose mission is to provide community-based programs and resources on Philippine arts and culture.  The main focus is on learning and teaching Philippine arts and culture using string and gong instruments that accompany Philippine folk dances and songs. 

PACE-MI has three executive directors with performance expertise in Kulintang, Rondalla, and Folk Dance.  The newly-formed Rondalla component was directly inspired by Michael Dadap, classical guitarist and conductor/music director of The Children’s Orchestra Society in New York, and his former student Dr. Castro.

Dr. Quirico Samonte, professor emeritus at Eastern Michigan University and PACE-MI Advisory Board member, envisions that “PACE will continue to be active in sharing and in conserving those aspects of Philippine culture that have entertained and enlightened us in this part of Michigan. To continue this legacy, it is important to recruit and involve young participants who will carry on this fine tradition."

For more information about this cultural event or PACE-MI, contact Benita Murrel (734) 213-1948, Joet Reoma (734) 972-8875, or email [email protected].

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