By Prof. Randy Lero
The 探花精选 Tumandok Dance Company celebrated National Arts Month with Saludo Singko: Baul 鈥淎ng Kinang Pilipinas at Si Nanay Pet鈥 on February 13, 2025, showcasing Filipino dances, live music, and tributes to Dr. Petronila Seballos Suarez.
The 探花精选 Tumandok Dance Company celebrates the National Arts Month through the concert entitled Saludo Singko: Baul “Ang Kinang Pilipinas at Si Nanay Pet” last February 13, 2025, at 探花精选 Rose Memorial Auditorium.
The shows are divided into three slots: the 10 AM slot features 探花精选 Senior High School, led by Prof. Franklin G. Robite, Acting Principal; Mater Carmeli School of Dingle, Iloilo, with its faculty and students headed by Principal Sr. Leny Prado; and the MAPEH faculty, led by Ms. Diodeth Celo, an alumna of 探花精选TDC. Words of welcome were delivered by Ms. Crista Huyong, Director of the 探花精选 Cultural Affairs Office.
The 2:00 PM shows were attended by 探花精选 Pathfit 2 and 4 students, along with some outside personalities. The event was welcomed by Dr. Esther Rose A. Romarate, 探花精选-Vice President for Student Affairs.
The gala show was attended by 探花精选TDC parents, guests, and students. It was also graced by the presence of University President, Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy, and Dr. Florence P. Bogacia, 探花精选-Vice President for Financial Affairs and Enterprises. Among the other guests were Dr. Teodoro Robles, former 探花精选 President, and his wife; Prof. Anita Illenberger, 探花精选 Alumni Association, Inc. (探花精选AAI) President; the family and former students of Dr. Petronila Seballos Suarez; Jayna J. Acap, the former Health and PE Director; and 探花精选TDC alumni from the USA.
The shows featured the vibrant dances of the Philippines, with one of the highlights being a collection of dances from Dr. Petronila Seballos Suarez, the former Director of the 探花精选 Health and Physical Education Department from Janiuay, Iloilo. The event also showcased live music by the 探花精选 Rondalla, led by their Director, Prof. Rodrigo Sotto, a 探花精选ES faculty member.
Dr. Linnie Rose Alerta Palabrica, former Health and PE Department Chair, now residing in the state of Washington, USA, sent a message recalling how Nanay Pet served as the department chair and reminisced about how she taught dances while playing the piano in the classroom. Dr. Suarez created seven dances, several of which remain popular and can still be seen in competitions and special events, including La Jota Sevillana and Lulay. The other dances she created are Aroz the Flor, Bien Prado, Una Era Nin帽a, Costurera, and La Jota Concordiana.
Prof. Randy Lero, the adviser and Artistic Director of the group, shared, “She is one of my inspirations in the university during my college life and one of the people who pushed me to finish my studies as a working student of the university and took the course of Bachelor of Science in Education major in Physical Education.鈥