Our Unique Cultural Focus - Maginoo at Binibining Filipino News

“. . . T h e d a n c i n g a n d f e s t i v a l a t m o s p h e r e
Miguel Efondo, Maginoo Filipino News NZ 2014
took me back to the Philippines.”
-
Unique cultural focus
sets it apart
By Mel Fernandez
The Maginoo at Binibining Filipino News show is claiming the crown for
being the leading 'cultural pageant' in New Zealand. Ironically, the cultural
focus of this event also sets it apart from mainstream 'beauty pageants'.
Photos by: Seyer Photography, Alex Briones Photography and Freelanzer Photography
Alex Briones Photography
“From the outset our mission was to create a cultural show where young people can proudly display the
festival costumes of the
Philippines on the catwalk
for all to see and in the
process get up close to their
rich cultural heritage,” says
producer, Sheila Mariano.
“We've tried to distance
ourselves from the formula
used by some
mainstream
'beauty pageant'
organisers that
focuses
on
'brains, beauty,
glamour and talent'. We've substituted these criteria with just
'cultural awareness'.
“Although
there was a cultural focus at last
year's event, it
was not a predominant theme
for the show. At
that time we had a small
production team: choreographer and director, Alyx
Ty, audio-visual, sound and
lights by James Thompson
and Milo Duane Cruz and
production manager Angie
Barcelona. I guess we
went through a learning
curve. Although it turned
out to be a polished event
with a lot of highlights,
we've tried to fine tune the
show the second time
around and focus more on
the cultural aspects.”
“The cultural segment
was actually one of my
favourite parts of the
show,” says Seresa Lapaz
gleefully. The 1st Runnerup Binibining Filipino
News 2014 adds that: “I
really love the idea of our
Filipino culture being portrayed in a joyous, carnival
atmosphere. That's why I
chose to represent the
Panagbenga
Festival,
because it is colourful and
very popular in the
Philippines as well.”
Lapaz is a member of a
Filipino cultural dance
group called Aotearoa
Manilena. “It's a new
group. My mom is the one
who teaches us to dance
and finds costumes for us.
We danced at the Sinulog
Festival in January.
“I think that Filipino
youth, whether they are
from interracial marriages
or have grown up here,
should know more about
their roots. This awareness
will give them a chance to
know who they really are
and an understanding of
where their parents are
from.”
Ayana
Menorca,
Binibining Filipino News
2014, agrees with Lapaz.
“One of my favourite segments of the show was festival wear. I got to know
more about the festivals in
the Philippines.”
In Wellington Menorca
was a dancer in a leading
cultural dance group founded by Anita Mansell,
QSM. “We learnt to dance
the Igorot dance, some
Muslim dances and also
tinikling.”
Menorca is thankful that
her parents encouraged
their children to speak in
Tagalog at home. “We have
a rule that my mom
reminded us of: If someone
speaks to us in
English
we
answer to them in
English. If someone uses Tagalog
we respond in
Tagalog.”
M i g u e l
Efondo, Maginoo
Filipino
News
2014, also felt
that this was more
of a cultural
event. “We got to
meet
Filipinos
from mixed marriages and other
Filipino youth.
We shared our
memories of living in the
Philippines.”
The scale and grandeur
of the opening number featuring festival costumes
was spectacular, say the
contestants we spoke with
for this story. “I thought it
would be a simple dance to
the sound of drums,” says
Efondo. “And then on the
day itself I saw these huge
FESTIVALS ON PARADE:
Larissa Curtis and Patrick
Maagdenberg, Sinulog Festival
Rachelle Wilson and Leon Baylon,
Flores de Mayo
Gillian Howard and Michael Hill,
Pahiyas Festival
Shekinah delos Santos and
Tristan Lacanilao, Cordillera Festival
Seresa Lapaz and Miguel Efondo,
Panagbenga Festival
Ysabela Ybasco and Amiel Luna,
Moriones Festival
Ayana Menorca and Gabe Gomez, an sa
Dabaw Festival
costumes. I felt as if we
were in a street parade,
what with Michael and
Gabe's elaborate festival
costumes, Leon with a
huge umbrella and Tristan
and Shekinah wearing
Igorot costumes. The dancing and festival atmosphere
took me back to the
Philippines.”