Mallgoers had the rare opportunity to see an environmental performing arts group share their advocacy through dance during Likas-Kayang Pilipinas: an Environmental Concert held recently at the Skydome at SM City North EDSA.
A joint project of SM City North EDSA and Sinag Arts, the performance by Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig was just in time for the worldwide celebration of the Earth Day.
Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig is an environmental performing arts group composed of young adults and children who were born or have grown up in Smokey Mountain, said to be the third largest untreated garbage dump in the world. With that, they are committed to protect the environment and to encourage everyone to treat each other kindly, through the different dances and rituals they perform on stage.
Fr. Ben Beltran, executive director and founder of Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig proudly said that the group has been chosen Ambassadors for Peace and Environment by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) upon seeing the group’s ecological projects. They started planting bamboo trees together with the Dumagats at the Marikina Watershed to help reduce the drastic effects of climate change.
During the concert, they performed more than 20 different kinds of dances, demonstrating how we can help in conserving nature. It opened with a dance interpretation of the legend of Malakas and Maganda, depicting Global Equality, and how poverty was not yet experienced during the early days.
This was followed by cultural dances such as Sala Ti Mais and Bulaklakan to promote the health and wellbeing of every Filipino. Other folk dances such as Pandanggo which uses small candles while dancing, and Maglalatik which uses half coconut shells to emphasize the importance of energy sustainability, safe environment and sustainable living for everyone.
The show ended with a promise from Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig performers and Fr. Ben that they will continue to inspire other individuals to commit themselves in to taking care of our Mother Earth and create strategies in the fight for sustainability and environmental equity.
Likas Kayang Pilipinas: An Environmental Concert is one of the many exciting events at SM City North EDSA.
