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The 110th
commemoration of our nation’s independence was marked with the
return of the Rigodon de Honor as a highlight of the traditional Vin
d’ Honneur for the Diplomatic Corps.
It was considered another step in line with efforts to restore the
best of the old traditions of Malacañan Palace and the Presidency,
display pride in Philippine customs, and contribute to the revival
and promotion of Philippine ceremonial dance.
The last Rigodon de Honor danced at Malacañan, in the Ceremonial
Hall (now Rizal Hall), was on June 30, 1981, as a highlight of the
ball commemorating the third inauguration of President Marcos.
I sought the assistance of Jeremy Barns, palace museum curator, for
some insights into this courtly tradition.
According to Mr. Barns, the Rigodon de Honor has for generations
been considered the most refined of the country’s ceremonial dances.
It is a quadrille or square dance that has its roots in 17th-century
France (invented by a dancing master named Rigaud at the Court of
Louis XIII), and was introduced into the country from Spain in the
19th century.
At Malacañan Palace, the Rigodon was featured on the most important
of state occasions, one of the earliest known instances being on
January 23, 1878, to commemorate the birthday of King Alfonso XII of
Spain.
The dance, which gradually evolved through the remainder of the
Spanish and the subsequent American colonial periods to become
uniquely Filipino, was brought to its height of elegance and
refinement by President Manuel Luis Quezon, and was performed during
the Commonwealth and in the subsequent presidencies of the Republic
to give honor and distinction to official festivities.
At the Palace, the dance used to be performed to music performed by
the Constabulary band at state functions with high government
officials, guests and their spouses participating, led by the
President and First Lady together with the guest of honor or next
highest official and his lady (both couples making up the cabeceras).
So frequent and prestigious was the rigodon that the Palace had an
official dance master in the person of Don Manuel Yriarte (who
actually died of a heart attack in 1930 during a ball for the
Legislature given at Malacañan while directing the rigodon) and
afterwards, during the Quezon years, Felipe Buencamino.
President Quezon’s love of dancing was legendary, and what is today
Heroes Hall was at that time fitted out with a permanent dance
floor. At the Palace in those years, the male dancers were requested
to wear formal mess jackets or white tuxedo, black pants and black
tie for the rigodon. The women, except Muslim and foreign women,
were requested to come in traje de meztiza or terno, the native
formal attire for women, characterized by butterfly sleeves, stiff
pañuelo, and long train.
State functions in honor of distinguished visitors or to commemorate
important occasions (such as presidential inaugurations and state
visits), anniversaries or holidays (especially Independence Day on
July 4, and later June 12) inevitably featured dancing.
It was the practice that after the opening of the ball with the
Rigodon, the next number would be something more modern and lively,
such as a waltz, foxtrot, tango or conga. After the war, the Rigodon
remained a feature of official Palace life well into the Roxas and
Quirino administrations, afterwards becoming less frequent as the
role of dancing in official functions declined.
For the revival of the Rigodon for this year’s Independence Day
celebration, the President handpicked the participants and took the
time to occasionally drop in on their rehearsals. At one rehearsal,
I understand that she also gamely learned the steps, partnering with
Secretary Art Yap.
The twenty couples who performed the Rigodon were: Congressman
Albert Garcia and Congresswoman Carissa Coscolluela; Mayor Freddie
Tinga and Ms. Zareen Baqir; CICT Chair Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III
and Ms. Abby Ramos Claudio; Mr. Butch Ramirez and Mayor Jenny
Barzaga; Congressman Mark Enverga and Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon;
Mr. John Gaddi and Ms. Joanne Reyes; Ambassador David Pine and Ms.
Assunta de Rossi-Ledesma; Governor Leo Campos and Ms. Angie Cadungog;
General Arturo Lomibao and Ms. Elizabeth Lee; Congressman Robbie
Puno and Atty. Patricia Bunye; Mr. Sonny Tanchanco and Ms. Paula
Locsin Bondoc; Congressman Martin Romualdez and Ms. Dawn
Zulueta-Lagdameo; Mr. Nestor Jardin and Ms. Tessa Prieto Valdez; Mr.
Alex Macapagal and Ms. Anna Marie Periquet; Congressman Joboy Aquino
and Ms. Marissa Andaya; Congressman Dato Arroyo and Mayor Kimi
Cojuangco; Secretary Arthur Yap and Ms. Lani Mercado Revilla; Former
Senator Tito Sotto and Ms. Mons Romulo Tantoco; General Generoso
Senga and Congresswoman Rachel Arenas; Secretary Peter Favila and
Ambassador Kristie Kenney.
The entire Independence Day reception and Rigodon de Honor was
directed by Ms. Lupita Kashiwahara. Choreography was by Ms. Bujing
Danao and Ms. Dalah Pia, assisted by Mr. Renato Delgado and Mr.
Jerry Mercado. Music was by Gloria Gatmaitan and her band.
Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@yahoo.com and
totingbunye2000@gmail.com.
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