Dance as prayer

Dance, like prayer, is an expression. Just like prayer, dance is a very powerful expression of faith that can move a nation towards God.

Such is the belief of master choreographer Douglas Nierras and the people behind the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM) that they joined forces to stage once again the prayerful and powerful dance repertoire, Panalangin on Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m. at the CICM Provincial House located at 60 14th Street, New Manila, Quezon City. Panalangin is an all prayer repertoire composed of eight dances, namely Requiem, Tenderness, Salamin ng Buhay, Lux Aeterna, Panalangin, Coroner’s Report, Ave Maria and Gloria.

Panalangin shows the colorful range of how Filipinos pray: from gray solitude to a colorful and joyful celebration. Expect the stage to transform from a solemn sanctuary to a festive celebration of God and love as the phenomenal Powerdance enchants you with its captivating movements. In this prayerful and very Pinoy dance affair, expect nothing but the most intense and most rousing choreography by Nierras as performed by the Powerdance.

The music used in this program is a mixture of original creations of Filipino composers as well as well-known and best loved international classical pieces by respected composers worldwide.

Nierras put up this repertoire to promote creative dance to the mainstream audience and to show that prayer can be done anywhere and in any way. He believes dancing is a powerful tool in telling people the importance of prayer.

“I don’t have any apologies about my religion and my faith,” Nierras shared. “As a matter of fact, I embrace it. I’m a happy Catholic.” It is for this reason that Nierras is more than proud to come up with Panalangin, an all-prayer dance repertoire that is currently being toured all over the country.

However, this time Panalangin will not just be a dance repertoire. It will be a dance repertoire for a cause. The show will be for the benefit of the CICM Mission Animation program of the seminarians of the Maryhurst Mission Seminary. It also aims to support the faculty enhancement program of the institution.

CICM, or the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Belgian Roman Catholic missionary congregation, has been bringing the Good News to the most decrepit places in the country for more than a century. The congregation has inspired many Filipinos to give themselves to serve the missions worldwide. They have endured the worst conditions to work as CICM missionaries, priests and brothers in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy, D.R. Congo, Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Zambia, Senegal, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mongolia, Japan, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Haiti.

“In Cameroon, water can be very precious because it is very scarce there,” Fr. Pedro Penaranda, rector, CICM Provincial House, said. “A lot of our brothers got very sick when they were assigned in Cameroon, but still we continued serving our brothers and sisters there. However, to continue doing this, we would need every Filipino’s support. This is why we are staging the Panalangin to support our missionary works.”

Despite the tragedies that have wrought the nation, Fr. Pedro believes that the country is still blessed. “It’s high time that we share the gift to our brothers and sisters living in more alarming conditions.”

Together with Nierras and the Powerdance, Fr. Pedro would like to invite all to share their blessings and enjoy an evening of prayerful and powerful dance by watching the soul-lifting dance repertoire Panalangin.

UP SURP alumni homecoming

Are you a graduate of the University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP SURP)? On the occasion of the School’s 43rd Founding Anniversary and the University Centennial, UP SURP will hold its first Grand Alumni Homecoming with the theme: U.P. SURP — 43@100 on Oct. 24, 6 to 11 p.m. at the Grand Terrace, Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.

To help capture the good old times and the camaraderie formed in the school, the UPAA SURP Chapter will also release a souvenir program that features recent and old photos, articles, greetings and other interesting information. Alumni are encouraged to contact the UPAA SURP Chapter and have their photos and anecdotes published in the Souvenir Program.

UP SURP is the only graduate school in urban and regional planning in the country today. Since its establishment in October 1965, UP SURP, then called the Institute of Planning, has been at the forefront of development planning efforts in the country. UP SURP continues this tradition of excellence through its four-fold mandate of graduate education, research, training and extension services.

For details, call 920-6853 or 920-6854 or e-mail [email protected].