NATION
Calamba, Liliw talents top Laguna cultural contests
Folk dance, kundiman competitions showcase province’s cultural heritage
SANTA CRUZ, Laguna — Performers from Calamba City and Liliw emerged as top winners in two provincial cultural competitions held Friday, 6 November, highlighting Laguna’s efforts to preserve traditional Filipino dances and music.
The 11th Laguna Folk Dance Competition and 15th Maria Carpena Kundiman Song Competition gathered performers from different municipalities and cities at the Laguna Provincial Cultural Center in Santa Cruz.
Organized by the provincial government through the Laguna Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Trade Office (LTCATO), the competitions formed part of the cultural preservation initiatives under Governor Sol Aragones.
Calamba group wins folk dance competition
The Tapay-An Salinyaw Performing Group of Calamba City secured first place in the folk dance competition, which featured eight participating groups.
The Santa Maria Academy Dance Troupe of Santa Maria finished second, followed by the LSPU-SCC Folk Dance group of Santa Cruz in third place.
The performances were evaluated by judges John Christopher Mesana, Joe Anthony Basco and Regional Director Marites Castro.
Liliw singer tops kundiman contest
In the Maria Carpena Kundiman Song Competition, Erich Joshua Herrera of Liliw claimed the top prize among 10 contestants.
Mariella Villanueva of Pagsanjan placed second, while Hannah Jin Del Rosario of Los Baños finished third.
The singing competition consisted of two segments, with scores from both portions contributing to the contestants’ final rankings.
The panel of judges included Isaac Iglesias, Mesana and Basco.
The competition honors the legacy of Maria Carpena, a celebrated Filipino soprano associated with the country’s kundiman tradition.
Cultural preservation efforts continue
Provincial tourism officials emphasized the importance of maintaining traditional performing arts as part of Laguna’s cultural identity.
Among the officials present were LTCATO History, Culture and Arts Division chief Peter Jaynul Uckung, Tourism Planning Division chief Maricel Aragones Perez and LTCATO head Egay Victorio.
The provincial government said it would continue supporting programs that promote Laguna’s artistic traditions, historical heritage and cultural tourism.
The competitions also provided a platform for local performers to demonstrate their talents while encouraging the appreciation of traditional Filipino music and dance among younger generations.