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.
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.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if she is doing some very important work.
ReplyDeleteSo different and beautiful culture!
ReplyDeleteLéia
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?
ReplyDeleteShe's very beautiful, too!
An excellent image of beautiful costumes.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful art and color!
ReplyDeleteShe is sitting so still it seems. I almost thought this was a statue at first! What a lovely, proud woman!
ReplyDeleteIt is very very important to preserve one's culture and roots!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question about geese: Saint Eulalia was a geese shepherdess.
Fascinating! I'm glad there are people who try to research and preserve indigenous cultures.
ReplyDeleteWow! So interesting!
ReplyDeleteShe looks very learned! Love what she's wearing :)
ReplyDeleteI must say that she looks the part she plays. Nice post, Hilda.
ReplyDeleteAfter 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
You country has wonderful cultures.
ReplyDeleteI have so much respect for people who work patiently to keep old cultures alive. And you've captured a beautiful portrait of Ligaya.
ReplyDelete[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.]
What a beautiful face, she looks fantastic!
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