JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month throughout May, a group here in Jacksonville is teaching Filipino history all year round without words, but through choreography by performing traditional Filipino dances all over northern Florida.
The movements are inspired by the skills that established the Philippines and are still ingrained today in the Filipino lifestyle: Farming, weaving and fishing.
"When we we were in school, we were taught how to dance the folk dances," Ceeres Hernaez, a dancer a part of the D'barkada group.
In Tagalog, "D'barkada" means friendship, which is what their dance group is built on along with preserving Filipino traditions.
To educate the next generation about Filipino history, dance classes are apart of the curriculum from elementary school through college.
Here in America, the traditional Filipino dances are performed at religious ceremonies and celebrations like weddings, holidays and even birthday parties.
“To promote our culture, our heritage, to all the Filipino communities here in Jacksonville. It's one way for us to tell stories to our Filipino neighbors here in Jacksonville,” explained Neda Escobar, a dancer a part of the D'barkada group.
Adding the Filipino dances is a part of their cultural identity, an identity they're proud of.