This document provides biographical information on five prominent figures in Philippine folk dance: Francisca Reyes-Aquino, Leonor Orosa Goquingco, Lucrecia Faustino Reyes-Urtula, Ramon Arevalo Obusan, and Alice Garcia Reyes. It describes their contributions to researching, documenting, teaching and performing Philippine folk dances. It also lists some of the major awards and works of each figure. All five were awarded National Artist of the Philippines, the highest honor given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts.

2. Francisca Aquino Leonor O. Goquingco Lucrecia Urtula Ramon A. Obusan Alice Reyes

3. Francisca Reyes-Aquino (March 9, 1899 –
November 21, 1983) was a Filipino folk
dancer and academic noted for her research
on Philippine folk dance. She finished her
college in the University of the Philippines
until she became a professor in Physical
Education.She is the author of “Philippine
Folk Dances and Games” where she focused
on studying our native dances. Francisca Reyes
Aquino is the Mother of Philippine Folkdancing.

4. AWARDS
• National Artist Award or
Gawad Artista ng Bayan
• "Philippine Republic Award
of Merit"
• Cultural Award
• UNESCO of the Philippines
• The Ramon Magsaysay Award

5. WORKS
• Philippine National Dances (1946)
• Gymnastics for Girls (1947)
• Fundamental Dance Steps and
Music (1948)
• Foreign Folk Dances (1949)
• Dances for all Occasion (1950)
• Playground Demonstration (1951)
• Philippine Folk Dances, Volumes
I to VI.

7. Leonor Orosa Goquingco (24 July 1917 –
15 July 2005) was a Filipino national
artist in creative dance, who was also
known for breaking tradition within dance.
She played the piano, drew art, designed
scenery and costumes, sculpted, acted,
directed, danced and choreographed.

8. AWARDS
• Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award
in 1969 and 1964
• Rizal Centennial Award in 1962
• Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1964
• Presidential Award of Merit in 1970
• Tandang Sora Award and the Columbia
University Alumni Association Award in
1975
• National Artist for Dance on March 27,
1976

9. WORKS
• "Return to Native”
• “In a Javanese Garden”
• “Sports”
• “Vinta!”
• “In a Concentration Camp”
• “The Magic Garden,Clowns”
• “Firebird”
• “Noli Dance Suite”
• “The Flagellant”
• “The Creation”

11. Lucrecia Faustino Reyes-Urtula (June 29, 1929
– August 4, 1999) was a Filipino
choreographer, theater director, teacher, author
and researcher on ethnic dance. She worked to
translate folk dancing into the realm of theater.
She adapted indigenous dance traditions to the
demands of the modern stage, and performances
of her works received international attention.
Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula was the founding director
of the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance
Company

12. AWARDS
• ASEAN Tourism Association for the Best ASEAN
Cultural Effort, Pattayas, Thailand (1990)
• Tandang Sora Award for the Arts (1982)
• Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the
City of Man ila (1973)
• International Women's Award in UNAP's Women of
Distinction (1963)
• Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Research in
Folk Dance (1963)
• Conferred a title, "Bai Kiokmay" (means, most
active princess in the Arts)) in a ritual performed
by the Mandaya tribe of Davao, attended by the
tribes of Agusan participated in by 16 datus. (1963)

13. WORKS
• Tinikling
• Maglalatik
• Lubi-Lubi
• Polka Sa Nayon

15. Ramon Arevalo Obusan (June 16, 1938 –
December 21, 2006) was a Filipino dancer,
choreographer, stage designer and artistic
director. Obusan is credited for his work in
promoting Philippine traditional dance and
cultural work. He is also an acclaimed
archivist, researcher and documentary
filmmaker who focused on Philippine culture.

16. AWARDS
• The Patnubay ng Kalinangan award
by the City of Manila in 1992
• The Gawad CCP Para sa Sining
award in 1993
• The prestigious National Artist of
the Philippines for dance in May
2006.

17. WORKS
• Obusan thought of starting a dance company that will mirror
the traditional culture of the Filipinos through dance and
music. The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group (ROFG)
• Vamos a Belen! Series (1998-2004) Philippine Dances
Tradition
• Noon Po sa Amin, tableaux of Philippine History in song,
drama and dance
• Obra Maestra, a collection of Ramon Obusan's dance
masterpieces
• Unpublished Dances of the Philippines, Series I-IV
• Water, Fire and Life, Philippine Dances and Music--A
Celebration of Life
• Saludo sa Sentenyal
• Glimpses of ASEAN, Dances and Music of the ASEAN-Member
Countries
• MJ (Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group): Philippines Costumes in
Dance

18. EVENTS
• Palihang Pambata sa Bahay ni Kuya Mon
• Bayang Pinapangarap : Mga awitin sa pagdiriwang ng
ating kasarinlan
• “FIESTA FILIPINAS”
• Vamos a Belen : Sama-samang Paggunita at
Pagdiriwang – Belen Exhibit
• Palihang Pambata sa Bahay ni Kuya Mon – Culminating
Activity
• Glimpses of ASEAN
• One Man’s Impossible Dream – The ROFG Story
• Yakan : The Sound of Tuntungan
• Lessons for a changed world : The Legacy of the
indigenous peoples of the Philippines
• Herencia de Cuerdas : the Strings that Bind us

20. Alice Garcia Reyes is a Filipina dancer,
choreographer, teacher, director and producer.
The founder of Ballet Philippines

21. AWARDS
• Her strong passion to arts and
dance made her a National Artist
for Dance by President Benigno
Aquino III through Proclamation
No. 807 on June 20, 2014.

22. WORKS
• Amada
• Carmina Burana
• The Exemplars
• Vision of Fire
• A Gala Celebration
• Itim-Asu
• Bayanihan Remembered
• Mga Babae
• Tales of the Manuvu
• Rama Hari