|
Me'dal
Kolon Datal Dance and Theatre
Ensemble
Wins 1st Place in Region 12 Travel
Mart Cultural Presentation Competition
Me'dal Kolon Datal bested five cultural troupes representing
various provinces, municipalities and cities in Region XII in a showdown of skills and artistry last July 20, 2004 at the
Protech Center in South Cotabato.
The 10- minute choreographic piece "Amlah/Toku Fali/Pandoman
Festival" based on traditional B'laan farming, harvest and thanksgiving, won the nod of the members of the prestigious Board
of Judges coming from Manila, the National Commission for Culture and Arts, Cultural Center of the Philippines and from
the best dance troupes in the Philippines.
The contest piece is an original research work by
the choreographers of MKD.
Me'dal Kolon Datal is an organization committed
to preserve and promote the culture of South Cotabato, namely, the Lumads (B'laan, T'boli), Maguindanaoan (Islam) and the
Christian settlers (Ilonggo, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, etc.), through traditional dances and songs, costumes, rituals and
folkways.
MKD Wows delegates to the first Filipino
Society of Foresters' National Convention.....
Me'dal Kolon Datal received "bravos" as the members took their final curtain call in a command performance
for the 420 foresters from all over the country held in Family Country Hotel in General Santos City last September 28, 2004.
The group performed two suites:
"Mantones y Panuelos" - a suite dedicated to dances brought by Spanish Conquistadores such
as Paseo de Iloilo, Jota Quirino and Polkabal performed in a lavish turn of the century wedding as a background.
"Perlas ng Mindanao" - a suite dedicated to the published and unpublished dances of Mindanao Island,
showcasing the dances of the Maguindanao, B'laan, T'boli, Bagobo, Talaandig, Debabanoon and Taosug tribes. The songs, dances
and rituals although diverse, are unified in one choreographic piece based on the question "How does a Mindanaoan live a normal
day?"
The group's performance was so well-received that they earned a plaque for exemplary performance
along with the national winners of the outstanding foresters competition in the Philippines from the President of the
FSF.
|
