Celebrating seven decades of
LIFE LONG
COMMITMENT
Photographs courtesey of the Belmonte Family Archive
The late Dr. Paz Cielo Angeles-Belmonte – dancer, choreographer, dance researcher and educator – was at the forefront of promoting Philippine Culture
Her Mission
To contributes to the growth and development of folk dance in the Philippines, creating greater awareness and appreciation among Filipinos and foreigners alike.
Dr. Paz-Cielo A Belmonte with husband Ramon Belmonte and Lola Kikay during their first international tour in 1957
The late Dr. Paz Cielo Angeles-Belmonte — dancer, choreographer, dance researcher and educator — was at the forefront of promoting Philippine culture through her devotion to the cause of folk dance — an icon of Philippine cultural dance scene. Her teachings, advocacy works and achievements through the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PB) continue to contributes to the growth and development of folk dance in the Philippines, creating greater awareness and appreciation among Filipinos and foreigners alike.
Her impressive record as a dance educator has produced generations of performers and teachers who’ve all been touched by her dynamic vision and deep understanding of the traditions of Philippine dance, and with the PB, founded in 1946, she has advanced Filipino culture and identity by inspiring the formation of similar dance troupes all over the country and the creation of an admirable image of the Filipino nation through its meritorious dance performances in the Philippines and around the world.
As a young dancer, she was the star performer of the Francisca Reyes Aquino’s University of the Philippines-Folk Song and Dance Troupe 1933–39, and worked as a choreographer on the Vaudeville productions at the State Theater and Avenue Theater during the war.
Dr. Belmonte has received a number of national and international awards for her outstanding contributions to the advancement of Philippine culture especially in the field
of dance.
“In every culture it changes as it comes but the roots where we came from will never change it is always within us....”
awards and achievements
The Republic of the Philippines Presidential Medal of Merit
The City of Manila’s Fourth Centennial Award
Patnubay ng Kalinangan sa Sayaw
Gawad CCP Para sa Sining; Parangal Sentenyal sa Sining at Kultura
Testimonial Plaque to the ‘Hall of Fame’ by the Philippine Normal College for the singular honour she brought to the county and to the college in particular
Citation from the University of the Philippines-Department of Physical Education for her outstanding achievement on culture particularly in dance. She was awarded by International Council on Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ICPHER) for having brought and ably directed the World Congress in Manila as Director General of the Congress
The First Recipient of the ‘Dance in Education Award’ of the Philippines given in June 1987. She also was awarded as the outstanding Alumna of the University of the Philippines in the field of Philippine folk dance by the UP Alumni Association. Malacañanggave herthe PAMA-AS ‘Gintong Bai Award’ for her outstanding works in
The field of Philippine dance July 7, 2005.
2015 Mother of the year, Manila Hotel Philippines