National Parks Development Committee presents 'Adhika' on May 11

The National Parks Development Committee, as part of the Concert at the Park series, in celebration of the founding anniversary of the Department of Tourism proudly presents ADHIKA featuring the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe - Manila and the Parangal Dance Company -  California, USA on Sunday, May 11, 2025, 5:30 pm at the Open Air Auditorium, Rizal Park, Luneta, Manila. This is open to the public. Free Admission.

ADHIKA will also feature Culture Bearers - Kalinga: Ophelia Grace Addom; Karl Duane Cusay Bawer Maguindanaon: Faisal Monal Tausug: Airia Askalani Obeso, co-directed by Ronnie del Barrio and Eric Solano, ADHIKA is a stirring, vibrant collaboration of Philippine indigenous and traditional dance bringing to life the rhythms, rituals, and stories that shape the Filipino spirit.

Ophelia Grace Addom and Karl Duane Cusay Bawer

ADHIKA is a living tribute to the Philippines’ cultural roots. From Luzon’s festive movements to the sacred traditions of Mindanao and Sulu, each piece invites you to journey through the diverse landscapes of Filipino identity.

More than a performance, ADHIKA is a call to remember and celebrate. It honors cultural bearers, inspires new generations, and keeps the legacy of indigenous traditions alive — vibrant, relevant, and proudly Filipino.

The Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PB) began as a mixed dance class in the 1940s at Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University) under founder and creative director Dr. Paz Cielo Angeles-Belmonte – and thus the longest-running Philippine cultural performance troupe of its kind. With a rich history of training generations of dance educators and performers, the troupe honors Philippine tribal and traditional dance through music, song, and dance. Now led by Creative Director Ronnie del Barrio, PB has performed extensively in the Philippines, ASEAN, and worldwide over the past seven decades. The troupe offers annual workshops, events, and stage productions, continuing its mission to celebrate and preserve Filipino cultural heritage.

The Parangal Dance Company is a non-profit, Filipino Folk Dance & Music Company based in the unceded Ramaytush Ohlone Territory, also known as San Francisco in California, USA. Parangal’s mission is to give tribute to Philippine heritage by preserving and promoting ethnic attire, music, and dance through research, workshops, and performances.

Parangal aims to serve as a bridge, inspiring and connecting Filipinos in diaspora to their roots to give them a sense of pride and identity, while educating diverse communities to foster awareness and appreciation of Philippine culture.

For further inquiries contact: Ronnie del Barrio +639455572161 Email: hello@philippinebaranggay.com

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BAYAN KO - A Filipino concert by Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe

Come and celebrate the 76th anniversary of Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe in a concert dubbed as BAYAN KO on November 26 (7pm) and November 27 (3pm and 7 pm) at the CCP Main Theater Lobby.

BAYAN KO is a depiction of the true identity of the Filipino people, showcasing the colorful and unique indigenous tribal and folk cultures with their customs and traditions, through music, song and dance.

The artistic team of BAYAN KO is led by Ronnie Del Barrio (Director / Artistic Director of PBFDT); Mariano Santiago (Associate Artistic Director) and Jun Arandela (Musical Director).

Originally 'barangay' meant boats used by the Malays arriving on the shores of the Philippines during the pre-Spanish times. Later, the name came to connote the unit of government known as the 'Pueblo'.

The word 'barangay', with its connotation of friendly association and harmonious living was adopted by the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT) to reflect its objectives of developing the physical, mental and social life of the individual through the cooperative effort of the members.

For the past seven decades, the PBFDT have traveled to the different stages of the world across Asia, Europe and North America, providing a window to the complex and culturally rich history of the Philippines.

The troupe continues to research, preserve and showcase the diverse multicultural Philippine life, with its customs, traditions, various religions, depicting the gaiety and friendliness of its people through its performances of the native arts in their authentic form.

The folk-like and unaffected atmosphere of the performances have won the world over as they present the story of the Philippines through a panorama of songs, dances and music.

The troupe has received many citations and awards both nationally and internationally.

The most prestigious of these is the Philippine Presidential Medal of Merit Award ‘Patnubay ng Kalinangan sa Sayaw’ (1971)—a truly distinguished award of recognition for the important contribution the troupe is making to its home country.

In 2021, the PB proudly celebrated its 75th Anniversary, a testament to the pioneering leadership of the founding Artistic Director — the late Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, awardee of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining at Sayaw (1990), Philippine Centennial Awards (1999) and the Gintong BAI Awards (2005).

The PBFDT continues to excel as one of the leading dance companies in the Philippines, playing an important role in folk dance education, with most of its members being teachers and educators.

The group has had a significant impact on the development of the Filipino youth’s values in appreciation of their own culture, arts and traditions, particularly folk/traditional dance and music.

The PBFDT have traveled to Russia's Red Square, climbed the Great Wall of China, visited the land down under in Australia, crossed the Berlin Wall and basked in the shadows of London's Big Ben and Paris' Eiffel Tower while criss-crossing all of Europe, danced on the stages of Las Vegas and Broadway and performed alongside Mickey Mouse in Disneyland.

Inspired and guided by the ‘Baranggay Spirit’ and discipline, members and alumni have organized folk dance groups in their respective schools/universities and communities worldwide, with the continued support of the mother company, previously under the leadership of Administrative & Creative Director, the late Mr. Eugenio C. Ticzon, or ‘Kuya Eugene’ as he is fondly remembered by most.

Indeed, the PB has expanded a thousand folds in its 76 years of existence — the longest running folk dance group in the country — and it will continue to expand to attain its mission of educating the Filipino youth towards appreciation, preservation and promotion of their Philippine cultural heritage.

Today, the dance troupe is under the new leadership of Administrative & Creative Director, Ronnie del Barrio, who joined the PB in 1982 as a Principal Dancer during his time at the PNC (now PNU). Ronnie’s career spans the past three decades, working as a creative director and choreographer, and a performer in London West End shows. Ronnie has worked closely with Philippine Embassies and communities across Europe as an arts consultant, collaborator and facilitator for cultural projects worldwide. Ronnie co founded PB’s sister company, the Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company (LahingKayumanggi.com), which has become widely recognized as Europe’s foremost Philippine cultural performance company.

BAYAN KO is a strictly by invitation event.

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