Today we’d like to introduce you to Anamaria Labao Cabato.
Anamaria, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As early as Kindergarten at El Toyon School, in National City, my teacher must have seen something in me to make me the Goldilocks in our class play Goldilocks and the Three Bears. There are three significant points in my life that I can attribute to my being a part of PASACAT for fifty years. 1) MY PARENTS: I am the eldest of three sisters, born to immigrant parents who were very involved in the community. My upbringing made me very shy and sheltered, which is a good thing as I focused on school. 2) CONNECTING TO COMMUNITY My parent’s involvement in Filipino organizations allowed me and my sisters to learn about the Philippines through cultural dances from the Filipino Women’s Club and the Filipino Community Association.
In 1969, Mayor Frank Curran invited the Filipino Community Association to give a tribute to San Diego’s 200th Anniversary. My dad was the president of the organization and led a three-hour cultural tribute presented at the Organ Pavilion. My sisters and I were among the fifty Filipino-American youths involved with the performance and created a community of its own. The enthusiasm was so evident that in 1970, the Philippine American Society and Cultural Arts Troupe was founded to continue the cultural education. 3) ROLE MODELS At the age of ten, I remember struggling with my identity, but it became clear after my parents took us to see the Bayanihan National Philippine Dance Company.
The beautiful and handsome dancers were my rock stars as they presented the rich cultural dance program representing the various regions of the 7,100 plus island country. I fell in love with Philippine dance. It saved me by keeping me focused, it helped me to embrace my culture and connect to my parents in a loving and meaningful way. I want this for all Filipino-Americans and this has been my motivation to serve in PASACAT as its Executive Director since 1988.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life and family is never smooth and with PASACAT, we have had our share of bumps in the road. Some of the struggles include casting for dances and differences in opinion on the direction to take the organization. PASACAT is one of few arts organizations that owns it’s own space – the PASACAT Center in National City. Since 1973, PASACAT has served as a home away from home, where dancers can be who they are.
We are feeling the brunt of “climate change” as the coast experiences more flooding – our PASACAT home has flooded three times since 2014 and destroyed our floor and some costumes, instruments and props. Flood insurance is too high and when weighing the costs to have the insurance, it was not going to work to our benefit. Social media has its effects as well on our members. But the organization stays true to itself by focusing on the PASACAT mission.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
PASACAT is a non-profit organization established in 1970 whose mission is to preserve and promote Asian Pacific culture through the arts, thereby extending goodwill and enhancing cultural understanding. PASACAT provides a year-round program in traditional Philippine dance and music for four performing components:
1. The Company Dancers are the high school and college students and grads who are trained to perform for stage productions.
2. The Junior Dance program teaches children ages 5-16 Philippine dance, songs, history and geography and trained to perform for small stage productions.
3. The Rondalla is a string ensemble utilizing the instruments bandurria, laod, octavina, guitar and bass
4. Harana Singers – Harana means serenade and is a small singing group singing Tagalog songs.
PASACAT productions are:
a. Annual Junior PASACAT Concert
b. Biennial Extravaganza featuring The Company Dancers and Rondalla
c. Annual Parol (Star Lantern) Festival
PASACAT also provides:
Philippine dance and music workshops.
Museum on wheels exhibit of Philippine textiles, books, costumes and props.
PASACAT has garnered rave reviews from mainstream dance critics for the Extravaganza productions describing PASACAT as a “touring professional company,” with “sweeping choreography” and dancers “eager to please.”
What makes us unique is the training we have received via PASACAT’s choreographer, Joji Ramirez Castro since 1988. She is a former member and a junior staff of the Bayanihan National Philippine Dance Company and toured with them extensively from 1970-1983. Her expertise in the presentation of Philippine dance and her dance library is extensive.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
This is PASACAT’s 50th Anniversary year so we have our year planned as follows:
Saturday, May 30, 2020 – 33rd Annual Junior PASACAT Concert
Saturday, August 1, 2020 – 50th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, October 10, 2020. – 50th Anniversary Extravaganza
Saturday, December 19, 2020 – 24th Annual Parol (Star Lantern) Festival
PASACAT Associate Choreographer, Matthew Padrigan and Dance Master, Gemma Cabato, spent one year in the Philippines. They worked on cultural mapping under the Philippine National Commission for Culture and Arts and took several cultural immersion trips the indigenous regions of the Philippines. Their research has provided much insight on the Indigenous people and have inspired the creation of new dances in this 50th Anniversary Year.
Contact Info:
- Address: 102 East 16th Street
- Website: pasacat.org
- Phone: 619-477-3383
- Email: admin@pasacat.org
- Instagram: @pasacat
- Facebook: @pasacat
- Twitter: @pasacat
Image Credit:
PASACAT
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