Philippine community celebrates culture, raises funds

Amber Eresmas said learning the dances of her ancestral homeland brings her and her fallow dancers closer to their heritage.

"Most of us were raised as Americans, so we don't have that much experience (with the Philippines)," said Amber Eresmas, 17, of Mission.

Amber and the other members of the Maharlika Philippine Cultural Troup performed several traditional dances during the fourth annual cultural celebration Sunday at the Echo Hotel and Conference Center.

Luz Llasos, one of the event's organizers, said the event started as a way to teach the children of Philippine families their heritage and raise money for community outreach projects here and in the Philippines.

"We want our Philippine children, even though their outside the Philippines, to still have the warmth of the Philippines," Llasos said.

Those who attended the event enjoyed watching the folk dances and songs. At one point the dancers asked those in the audience to join them in dancing the tinikling, or the bamboo dance, where people dance between and around bamboo sticks as others clasp and expand the sticks.

McAllen resident Norma Tuttle was one of the few who braved the popular dance.

"I loved it," said Tuttle, who said this was her first year attending the celebration.

For others, the event was a nice reminder of home.

Rudy Candelaria, a real estate broker from Edinburg, said he's been coming to the cultural celebration since it began. Throughout the night he would get up from his seat to take pictures of the different dances.

"What it does is it makes me remember back home," said Candelaria, who moved to the United States from the Philippines in 1985.

Money raised from the event will go toward funding a mission trip to the Philippines, Llasos said.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.