The Philippines is a nation deeply rooted in its cultural traditions, particularly in music and dance, though many traditional folk dances are becoming less familiar to younger generations. Each August, the country observes "Buwan ng Wika" (Month of the Filipino Language), a time when schools emphasize the importance of speaking the native language and learning about Filipino heritage. Gawad Kalinga (GK) plays a role in preserving this culture by expanding its programs beyond agriculture and education to include sports and the arts. Through projects like the SipaG program where we empower our communities and youth through sports, GK empowers young people to cultivate skills that enhance their lives. With this successful project in mind, GK also wants to branch out by producing more projects that hone the skills of their communities in the traditional arts— specifically singing and dancing. With this, GK USA is in the works of establishing “Sayawit”, a play on the Filipino words “sayaw” and “awit” which means “dance” and “sing”.
The GK Consuelo Dance Troupe in Macabebe, Pampanga was officially formed on June 24, 2024, when a group of passionate young individuals came together to celebrate and perform traditional Filipino dances. The troupe has 19 members, ranging from 10 to 16 years old. Some of the traditional folk dances they perform are pangalay, pandango sa ilaw, and maskara.
One of its founders and troupe members is Rosemarie, a 16-year-old student whose journey in dance began when she was just seven years old. Starting with hip hop and joining contests, she eventually discovered a deep interest in cultural dance as she wanted to connect more with her Filipino roots. Her first encounter with cultural dance was through social media, where she was drawn to the beauty and grace of traditional Filipino performances. With this, she shared her newfound interest with her friends who agreed that it was a good idea to get into. With the go-signal from their teachers, the dance troupe began practices in Villa Magdalena, Pampanga and later on performed in Porac, Pampanga.
Being part of the GK Consuelo Dance Troupe has been one of the greatest experiences for Rosemarie. The GK Consuelo Dance Troupe is her first time experiencing working closely with a group of people who share the same interests, and she has made many new friends who share her goals. Despite the occasional and inevitable challenges of group dynamics and clashing of ideas, the troupe practices the spirit of “Kapwa” (a Filipino concept of shared identity and empathy) and lives by the principle of “Walang Iwanan” (no one left behind), a core value they learned from Gawad Kalinga.
Recently, the GK Consuelo Dance Troupe was invited to Open Text AI in Metro Manila to perform for the tech company’s town hall. Although the trip was brief, it was a significant moment for the group to be recognized by a major company in the capital city. Rosemarie is proud of what she and her friends have accomplished, but she dreams of more for their little cultural group. They hope to gain more recognition, not just for themselves but for their town, and are wishing for sponsorships that could provide them with scholarships to finish their studies.
Rosemarie proves to us that the youth truly is the hope for our future. By keeping in touch with her historical roots, she is able to work on a brighter future for her and her friends through hard work and tradition. She is very proud of what they have achieved so far and would like to achieve even more in the future. She and her fellow dancers at the GK Consuelo Dance Troupe are not just performing folk dances but are keeping a vital part of Filipino culture alive. When asked what her message to her fellow youth was, Rosemarie encouraged other young individuals to pursue their talents and be proud of their own culture. She reminds them to have fun, work hard, yet also to always prioritize their studies.
The GK Consuelo Dance Troupe isn’t just a small-town group of children who share their love for cultural arts, they are a spark of hope for children like them and a reminder that anything can be achieved with hard work. With the right support, they are confident in their ability to inspire more young Filipinos to embrace and celebrate their cultural heritage. Rosemarie isn’t sure yet of what occupation she wants to pursue, but for now, she is focused on finishing her studies and aims to find a scholarship which would give Rosemarie and the rest of the GK Consuelo Dance Troupe more time to focus on their skills and have a big financial burden off their shoulders.
Let’s help encourage these young individuals to hone their talents and be proud of their identity as Filipinos even outside the month of August! Lend a helping hand by donating here at gk-usa.org so you can help children like Rosemarie achieve their dreams!
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