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PASACAT is a Philippine folk dance, but in San Diego, it began as the acronym for the Philippine-American Society and Cultural Arts Troupe. PASACAT is based in National City, in the County of San Diego, California and is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and promote the Asian Pacific culture through the arts, thereby, extending goodwill and enhancing cultural understanding.

The Beginning
On September 7, 1969, during a salute to San Diego’s 200th Anniversary by the Filipino-American Community Association of San Diego County, with Delfin Labao as president, San Diego witnessed the birth of this performing arts group in the first Philippine Cultural Extravaganza held at the Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. Paz Marquez Uro and Dr. Bill Yumul  choreographed and instructed fifty Filipino-American youths in Philippine dance for this three-hour tribute. The enthusiasm from the performance was tremendous, as was the response to continue Philippine folk dance. In November, 1970, PASACAT became the first formally organized Philippine Dance Company in San Diego and remains one of the the longest standing Philippine dance companies in the United States.

Philippine Performing Arts Company
There are four major performing components - Senior Company, Junior dancers, Rondalla/Percussion Instrumentalists and the Harana Singers. Under the artistic direction of George Ragaza, from 1985 to 1989, the Senior Company presentations were enhanced tremendously by his expertise in Philippine dance technique and styles, costuming and ethnic music. Joji Ramirez Castro, former member of the world famous Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, joined PASACAT’s artistic staff in 1986 and has guided the development of the energetic and eager Junior PASACAT Dancers. Since 1990, she has taken the position of PASACAT Choreographer/Dance Director lending her expertise in traditionally based Philippine dance.

Music Development
The beginning of a new decade in 1980 brought new dimensions to PASACAT. Bayani Mendoza De Leon, of the University of the Philippines, developed the music ensembles in voice, rondalla and indigenous percussive instruments. This expansion broadened the Company’s horizon in promoting the rich culture of the Philippines. This is evident in the PASACAT 1982 Rondalla and Vocal Ensemble’s contribution to the Magandang Pilipinas, record album, captivating a wider audience.

Performances
PASACAT, in its 44th season, continues to contribute to the cultural enrichment of San Diego. Fifty performances are given yearly by the sixty students, apprentices and company members for an audience totalling 4,500 for numerous educational, cultural, religious and social organizations. Other major productions are the Junior PASACAT Concert held annually in April or May; and the Parol Philippine Lantern Festival held annually in December. December, 3, 2012, His Excellency, Jose L. Cuisia, Philippine Ambassador to the United States graced the Parol Festival which again exemplifies PASACAT’s artistry and community building efforts.

PASACAT third production is the bi-annual Extravaganza, a two hour concert of traditional based Philippine dance, music and song held in September-October. To it's volunteer cast of thirty dancers, vocalist and musicians, it is considered Philippine dance boot camp as the dancers are taught the choreography and song, after which the dancers are described as skillful, poised and eager to please its audiences. Since 1992, PASACAT’s Extravaganza concerts have consistently garnered rave reviews describing PASACAT as “exuberant” and for its “smooth and well paced choreography, ” a “touring professional company…with young and fresh, skilled and well drilled dancers; the choreography as “total visual delight.” CNN International featured PASACAT on Inside Asia, February, 1996, airing in 226 countries. Footage from the 1994 Extravaganza and interviews with the Anamaria Labao Cabato, Executive Director and Castro, drew the conclusion that Philippine dance is a “looking glass in which present generations can peer for clues to understanding themselves better.

The City of San Diego hosted the American’s for the Arts Conference, June, 2011. PASACAT had the honor of performing after the keynote address of Robert Shriver and mesmerized an audience of 1,200 from all parts of the United States. PASACAT not only represented Philippine-American community, but the arts community at large.

PASACAT On Tour
As early as 1975, PASACAT has performed throughout California for the Philippine Department of Tourism Balikbayan Road Show; Department of the Army, Yuma Proving Grounds Multicultural Festival; the Philippine-American Community of Palm Springs. PASACAT has performed and provided Philippine dance consulting for the Univeristy of  California, San Diego; San Diego State University; University of Riverside Pilipino Club, and the University of California Santa Cruz. Other significant performances have been for the Los Angeles reception for His Excellency President Fidel Ramos, U. S. Conference of Mayors, National League All- Star Baseball Game, Unveiling Ceremonies of the Philippine Float for the Rose Parade and the 1998 Super Bowl Pre-Game Show, Qualcomm Stadium.

In August, 2002, PASACAT had the distinct honor of performing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, with the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company in celebration of its 45th Anniversary. Seventeen company members were given music and dance workshop by Bayanihan – a first for any U.S. Philippine dance company as well as the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.

PASACAT Support and Center
The founding member of PASACAT led by President Paz Uro, Vice-President Antonia Ricasa, Secretary Purisima Labao and Treasurer Buddy Blanes were passionate about establishing a center for the cultural arts. They inititiated the first Mrs. Philippines Contest in 1970 which ran annually through 1981 where married women competed in raffle prize sales and woman receiving the largest votes would be crowned Mrs. Philippines. Runners-up would be deemed Mrs. Luzon, Mrs. Visayas, Mrs. Mindanao and Mrs. Manila all after the largest islands of the 7,100 country and its capitol. The contest would begin in February with the introduction of the contestants. The ballot raffles would be counted in April and announce the royal court. The Coronation Ball would take place on the eve of Mother's Day where the Royal Court would process the El Cortez Ball Room depicting the Philippine tradition of the the Santa Cruzan. By 1975, PASACAT had enough funds to purchase an old VFW Hall in National City and now serves the rehearsal studio and the PASACAT home to hundreds of dancers, musicians and singers that participates in its programs.

PASACAT's 2012 season has been supported by the following: Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation AT&T Cares Foundation Alliance for California Traditional Arts Horton Plaza Theatre Foundation County of San Diego Community Enhancement Fund City of San Diego Creative Communities of San Diego Grant Qualcomm

PASACAT Contact Information
PASACAT 102 East 16th Street National City, CA 91950 619.477.3383 www.pasacat.org email: admin@pasacat.org PASACAT, Philippine Performing Arts Company, on Facebook AUTHOR: PASACAT Executive Director and founding member, Anamaria Labao Cabato