The 2016 Sayaw Kulay Festival

The 2016 Sayaw Kulay Festival

Last 29 October 2016, the EDSA Shrine – Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA, as pioneered by their Rector, Fr. Lari Abaco with the support of Fr. George Kochuchakkala and Rev. Arnel Calata, Jr. celebrated its first Sayaw Kulay Festival: A Dance Festival of Peace where a total of 13 liturgical dance groups coming from the areas of Rizal, Pasig, Manila, Quezon City, Taguig City, and Makati City participated by means of a “dance competition.” The liturgical dance groups who participated were: The Dreamers (Cainta, Rizal), Legion of Mary (Rosario, Pasig), MHTP Deaf Dancers (Sampaloc, Manila), Ismam & Kidz (Pandacan, Manila), Our Lady of Peace-HJM (EDSA Shrine), Zaion (Taguig City), DMI – INDAK TEJEROS (Makati City), Music Ministry (EDSA Shrine), PASE: Parents of Altar Servers (Pandacan, Manila), In the Name of God Dancers (EDSA Shrine), Makabata School Foundation, Inc. (Sta. Lucia, Pasig City), Lectors and Commentators Ministry (EDSA Shrine), Teatro Sacro Jesu (Sta. Mesa, Manila), and Danza del Niño Jesus (Pandacan, Manila).

All dance groups interpreted the officially arranged instrumental version of “Birhen ng EDSA” through their chosen dance medium of basic ballet, jazz, pop, folk and modern dance, that reflected a unique form of prayer in remembering, proclaiming and celebrating the 1986 peaceful EDSA People Power Revolution.

The Sayaw Kulay Festival culminated not only the commemoration of October as the month of the Holy Rosary but also deepened devotion to Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA whose unfaltering intercession and loving protection over the Filipino people brought about the victorious peaceful EDSA People Power revolution that ended the dark era of Martial Law.

The nine colors of peace –orange, gold, turquoise, yellow, pink, green, red, lilac, and blue were highlighted in the dance festival as all dance groups that participated wore these colors to  symbolize: the lighting of dawn for a new beginning (Orange), love destroying walls to unify (Gold), re-learning to trust in God (Turquoise), unwavering of faith for a dignified life (Yellow), persevering hope for the oppressed (Pink), coming about of justice, forgiveness and reconciliation (Green), renewal of the faith (Red), transformation to wholeness (Lilac), peace finding a home in the heart of every Peace-loving people (Blue).

It is our hope that the Sayaw Kulay Festival: A Dance Festival of Peace, becomes a tradition to remember that the 1986 EDSA Revolution has become God’s way to remind us of the gifts of Faith, Hope and Love, where our journey to democracy and peace be relived, which consequently gave birth to EDSA Shrine. The event was not only a night of performance but was an alternative expression of a communal prayer of adoration, praises, offering and thanksgiving to our Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA. The dance participants and shrine-goers alike who were present rekindled the spirit of EDSA. Now, it continues to live amongst us. With our intensified Marian devotion, we are not just mere advocates of peace but instruments and channels of peace.

The 2016 Sayaw Kulay Festival 

By: Ms. Anna Melissa de Guzman