mission

PASACAT is a Philippine folk dance, but in San Diego, it began as the acronym for the Philippine-American Society and Cultural Arts Troupe. Today, PASACAT's mission is to preserve and promote the Asian Pacific culture through the arts, thereby, extending goodwill and enhancing cultural understanding.

the beginning

On September 7, 1969, during a salute to San Diego's 200th Anniversary by the Filipino-American Community Association of San Diego County, with Delfin Labao as president, San Diego witnessed the birth of this performing arts group in the first Philippine Cultural Extravaganza held at the Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park. Paz Marquez Uro and Dr. Bill Yumul choreographed and instructed fifty Filipino-American youths in Philippine dance for this three-hour tribute. The enthusiasm from this performance was tremendous as was the response to continue Philippine folk dancing. In November, 1970, PASACAT became the first formally organized Philippine Dance Company in San Diego.

the company
pasacat repertoire,
staff and performing artists

PHILIPPINE PERFORMING
ARTS COMPANY
There are three major performing components - Senior Company, Junior Dancers and Rondalla/Percussion Instrumentalists. Under the artistic direction of George Ragaza, from 1985 to 1989, the Senior Company presentations were enhanced tremendously by his expertise in Philippine dance technique and styles, costuming and ethnic music. Joji Ramirez Castro, former member of the world famous Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, joined PASACAT's artistic staff in 1986 and has guided the development of the energetic and eager Junior PASACAT Dancers. Since 1990, she has taken the position of PASACAT Choreographer/Dance Director lending her expertise in authentic Philippine dance. Since 1992, PASACAT's Extravaganza concerts have consistently garnered rave reviews describing PASACAT as "exuberant" and for its "smooth and well paced choreography, " a "touring professional company.with young and fresh, skilled and well drilled dancers; the choreography as "total visual delight." CNN International featured PASACAT on Inside Asia, February, 1996, airing in 226 countries. Footage from the 1994 Extravaganza and interviews with the Anamaria Labao Cabato, Executive Director and Castro, drew the conclusion that Philippine dance is a "looking glass in which present generations can peer for clues to understanding themselves better.