March 19, 2012

Pride and joy

Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa
Ligaya (which means "joy") Fernando-Amilbangsa is a scholar, artist, dancer and cultural conservationist. She lived for two decades among the various indigenous peoples of the Sulu Archipelago, researching, documenting and trying to put into words the language of their music and dance. Aside from her research, workshops and conference lectures, she was one of the founders of the AlunAlun Dance Circle, which seeks to revive and nurture interest in ancient Filipino art forms.

15 comments:

Oakland Daily Photo said...

You can just tell she's a dancer. So elegant and graceful looking. I admire her passion and devotion to traditional arts. Contemporary societies everywhere need people like her to help preserve cultural history.

George said...

It sounds as if she is doing some very important work.

Cezar and Léia said...

So different and beautiful culture!
Léia

Lowell said...

People like this impress me very much. They do such important work and often are unsung heroes. You must have had the privilege of attending one of her workshops?

She's very beautiful, too!

VP said...

An excellent image of beautiful costumes.

Judy said...

Beautiful art and color!

Halcyon said...

She is sitting so still it seems. I almost thought this was a statue at first! What a lovely, proud woman!

Rob Siemann said...

It is very very important to preserve one's culture and roots!
To answer your question about geese: Saint Eulalia was a geese shepherdess.

James said...

Fascinating! I'm glad there are people who try to research and preserve indigenous cultures.

crocrodyl said...

Wow! So interesting!

Kaori said...

She looks very learned! Love what she's wearing :)

Anonymous said...

I must say that she looks the part she plays. Nice post, Hilda.

After I was hacked I had to give up my old user name and the blogs that went with it. My Birds Blog was among the give-ups.

So this is the new birds blog and I hope you can come visit. Birds Birds Birds and Birds

nobu said...

You country has wonderful cultures.

Francisca said...

I have so much respect for people who work patiently to keep old cultures alive. And you've captured a beautiful portrait of Ligaya.

[Hilda, I am in Manila until tomorrow when I leave again for China to work after an all-too-brief sanity break at home. But hopefully I can post a little more often than I have been the last few months. Be well.]

Unknown said...

What a beautiful face, she looks fantastic!