SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

T h i r d R e g u l a r S e s s i o n
S E N ATE
P. S. Res. No.

1527

Introduced by SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA

RESOLUTION
COMMENDING LIGAYA FERNANDO-AMILBANGSA AS A CULTURAL
AD VOCATE OF PANG AL AY, A TRA DI TION AL DA NC E O F THE
SU LU ARCH IP EL GO , FOR HER RESEARCH, DOCUMENTATION,
CHOREOGRAPHY, AND PRESERVATION OF THIS UNIQUE CULTURAL
TREASURE
WHEREAS, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution states that "the
State shall conserve, develop, promote and popularize the nation's
historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic
creations;"
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 10666, the National Cultural Heritage
Act, further notes that the State "shall likewise endeavor to create a
bal anc ed at mos pher e wher e the hist ori c past c oexists in har mon y
w i t h m o d e r n s o c i e t y, a n d i t s h a l l a p p r o a c h t h e p r o b l e m o f
conservation in an integrated and holistic manner, cutting across all
relevant disciplines and technologies;"
WHEREAS, Liga ya Fernando-Amilbangsa has devoted her life to
stud yi ng, practi cing, per for ming a nd c ons ervi ng t he pangalay, a
traditional dance form of the Sulu Archipelago;
WHEREAS, the pangalay, which means "gift offering" or "temple of
dance" in Sanskrit, is a "pre-Islamic dance tradition among the Samal,
Badjau, Jama Mapun and Tau Sug. It features complex body postures
and gestures, renowned for its graceful ar m and hand move ment,
e mp h a s i z e d b y t h e us e o f j an gg ay ( me t a l c l a ws ) , t o t he be a t of
pe r c us s i o n i n s t r u me nt s ( kulintangan, gabbang, agong, etc., performed
during weddings and other celebratory occasions;
WHEREAS, she conceptualized the Amilbangsa Instruction Method
(AIM) which "gives equal emphasis on technique and creativity", a
me t hod bas ed on Fer na ndo-A mi lbangsa 's dec ade s of experi ence,
study, documentation and performance which has become a method

of in st ruct ion , modi fi cat ion , elabo rat ion of the pre - Is la mi c
tr adi ti onal dance;
WHEREAS, she wrote a book entitled Pangalay: Traditional Dances and
Related Folk Artistic Expressions, published in 1983, which documents
pa ng al a y . The book published by the Filipinas Foundation was given
the National Award for Best Art Book by the Manila Critics Circle;
WHEREAS, her dedication to dance has earned her several accolades.
Her alma mater, Far Eastern University, gave her the Green and Gold
Artist Award for dance in 1994. In 2005, she received the Tanglaw ng
L ah i Awa r d f ro m t h e At en eo d e M an i l a U n iv e r s i t y, a nd i n S ep t e mb e r
20 11, sh e w a s a wa r d ed th e F i r s t M o s t Ou t s t an d in g Ar t i s t of Tawitawi. This year she will be given the Ramon Magsa ysa y Award, together
with Kommaly Chantavong from Laos, K y a w T h u f r o m M y a n m a r ,
A n s h u G u p t a o f I n d i a a n d S a n j i v Chaturvedi (for Emergent
Leadership);
WHEREAS, for her love of the performing arts and Filipino culture, it
is but timely and fitting for the Senate to commend Fernando Amilbangsa;
N O W T H E R E F O R E , B E I T R E S O L VE D , A S I T I S H E R E B Y
RESOLVED, that the Philippine Senate commend and congratulate
Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa as a cultural advocate of pangalay, a
t r ad i t i o na l da nc e f ro m t he S u l u Ar ch i p e la go , fo r he r ro l e i n r e se a rc h ,
do cu me n ta t i o n , c ho re og r ap h y an d of this unique cultural treasure.
Adopted,
LOREN LEGARDA
Senator