Puso ng Pasko

 NCCA brings Alice Reyes' dance revue to Western Visayas

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte 

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) brought National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes' dance revue to Western Visayas, particularly to the town of Culasi in Antique. 

In his welcome address, Hon.Jose Jeffrey Lomugdang, municipal mayor, thanked the NCCA and the Alice Reyes Dance Company for bringing an early Yuletide cheer to their far-flung locale that has seen its first performance from a renowned dance troupe.

"Christmas is a time for festivity when we all come together as a community, and preserve our traditions. It also reminds us of the importance of stewardship in showing the true meaning of the season," intimated Mayor JJ, as his constituents call him.

Secondary students from St. Michael's High School were part of the ensemble that included seasoned theater actor Audie Gemora. The dance revue, simply dubbed "Puso ng Pasko," tells of Gemora's youth (now a grandfather) in the fictional town of Tres Reyes in Bulacan.

Through flashbacks, he tells his granddaughter Angelita how Christmas is uniquely celebrated in their hometown. The spectators were all but gleeful until Gemora says the line - "Hindi lahat ng Xmas wish ay natutupad" - hinting of lost love from the past.

The high point of the evening was the 'CulasiGa' event where most of the town's residents witnessed the tree lighting, and fireworks display, after watching the dance revue at the lights-festooned Madjaas Confederation Freedom Park in Antique.