By Randy A. Lero

CPU Tumandok Dance Company, together with their Adviser/Artistic Director, Randy A. Lero, pose for a group photo in celebration of their participation in the 2nd Saot Ilonggo – The Iloilo Traditional Folk Dance Festival.

The Central Philippine University Tumandok Dance Company joins the launching of 2nd Saot Ilonggo – The Iloilo Traditional Folk Dance Festival last June 26, 2025, at SM City, Iloilo.

The launching participated by secondary, collegiate, and university schools in Iloilo and the said event was formally attended by Mayor Jerry Trenas, the city mayor of Iloilo, Mr. Dudgee Pena, the President of Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., newly elected City Councilors of Iloilo, Ms. Joyce Ann Clavecillas, the Executive Director of IFFI, school principals, and students from different schools in Iloilo City.

During the launching, the CPU Tumandok Dance Company is the first one to start the array of dances through their own version of the dance entitled “ARAY,” a flirtatious and Filipinized version of the famous Spanish Aragonese dance Jota. The name of the dance was derived from a final exclamation on the song, and the lyrics are from Chabacano Ermitense, a variant of Spanish that was spoken in the 19th century. The dancers perform using jingled tambourines and bamboo castanets.

The final performance of the festival will be on August 21, 2025, where the dance company will perform the assigned dance entitled “ALCAMFOR” at WVSU Cultural Center.

The said dance festival is one of the events of the 88th Iloilo City Charter Day Celebration on August 25, 2025.