A word on being National

It was a hectic last few weeks for the world of dance, with summer season coming to an end. Particularly the last week, as Ballet Philippines' bid for National ballet company status came to an unexpected possible reality with the help of Sen. BongBong Marcos. Artistic Director Paul Morales noticed a furor over this piece of news on Facebook - most of it negative - and requested a meeting with all interested to discuss where they were coming from, given that a senate hearing was scheduled last Tuesday, May 24 (but was moved to sometime this month).

Mr. Morales will be releasing a position paper on this bill soon, which you should read whether your concern for BP being named as National is positive or negative. In the meantime, I can only say that while I wish a bill was created instead to benefit the entire dance community vs just one dance group, I wish Morales, Ms Margie Moran-Floreindo and Ballet Philippines the best of luck. In the spirit of Alice Reyes and how BP was born in the first place, they forged ahead and dictated their destiny, which I respect. I hope that someone who feels just as strongly for Philippine Ballet Theatre will do the same.

I would like to emphasize that I am not on Morales' side in this issue. I'm not taking sides in the first place. But I can understand concerns such as being asked to cut down on Rehearsal Hall days, and being made to pay for overtime use of facilities you are supposed to enjoy and not worry about as a resident dance group.

However, as I've already mentioned, I'm a bigger believer in equal opportunity for everyone. If the government will be involved in arts, the assigned agency/agencies should be better managed and not self-serving. I know that some who are vocal about the BP National bill have been crusaders for the improvement of government funding for the arts. Sometimes, though, I have to ask if we didn't aim high enough, or why didn't more people do enough. Because now that someone dared ask for the height of what the government could give them, we are so quick to accuse them of it.

Morales and BP supporters are quick to point out that in having this bill passed, they will be establishing a platform for other groups in the future. I'm not too sold on this; the Bayanihan has been a National Folk Dance Company for some time now - a platform has already been established. In this light, I think the platform must be re-thought.

Ultimately, we cannot blame BP for wanting better working conditions, compensation and accommodations. Instead, let's go and seek that for ourselves as well.