is composed of young and professional individuals whose aim is to promote arts and culture thru dance. It was originally founded in July 2011 as Lahing Kayumanggi ng Marikina (LKM), through the initiatives of Mr. Vincent Soliven, Ms. Margarette Salonga and the late Mrs. Simeona F. Chanyungco. On the first year, LKM focused its program on cultural performances both for public and private events. In 2013, in honor of our mentor, the group was officially re-named as SIMEONA F. CHANYUNGCO LAHING KAYUMANGGI MANANAYAW NG MARIKINA INC. (SFCLKM). It was officially registered on February 20, 2013 with S.E.C. under the group’s original board members as follows: Vincent Soliven Founding President, Margarette Salonga-Badillo Vice President, Riza Antonio Treasurer, Medralyn Hampac Corporate Secretary, Patrick Dimasu-ay Auditor and Michael John Villaresto PRO. SFCLKM has also received accreditation from the city government of Marikina. SFCLKM has been formed and inspired by our mentor, the late Simeona F. Chanyungco who has been proclaimed with awards and recognition by the city of Marikina as one of its Local Artists, for her prowess and contribution to the art of Philippine Folk Dance. In fulfilling her Master's degree in dance, our late National Artist awardee, Francisca Reyes Aquino took Mrs. Chanyungco under her wing, and together they traveled from town to town, and worked together on folk dance researches. Her teaching career also involved "fighting" for folk dance to be permanently part of the school's Physical Education curriculum, not just for the sake of dancing but for our youth to recognize the importance of our Filipino culture and history through the art of folk dance. She even committed to this objective abroad, by providing free dance workshops during her yearly visits to New York, which were always celebrated with a fund raiser dance event where she donated all the profits to the local parish church she attended there. Since the inception of SFCLKM, the group has continued to promote Mrs. Chanyungco’s dance researches on Marikina’s very own folk dances namely Lerion, Balse Marikina and Libad from Rodriguez, Rizal, through our participation in community and church events, public school workshops, dance competitions and reach out programs. As part of our advocacies the group conducts annual programs for the community such as PAGMULAT (2013-2015) dance workshop for public and private schools, PAGLINANG (2014) dance workshop for teachers, PAMANA NI TIA NONANG ALAY PARA SA BAYAN (2014-2016) cultural concert for the community, PAGBABAHAGI (2014-2015) an outreach program for the elders and SALIN-SINING (2014-2015) cultural dance tour and art appreciation workshop. We also make sure that we take time for encouraging team work, by focusing on the values of mentoring and establishing long term relationships with one another through workshops we have held such as TATAK SIMEONA (2014-2015) teambuilding workshop, PAGTITIPON (2014) cultural show exclusively for member’s families and INDAYOG SUMMER DANCE CAMP (2014-2016) workshop of different dance genre. SFCLKM also participates annually in different National and International events such as PASINAYA of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (2014-2016), INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY (2015) and SAYAW PINOY NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITION (2013-2015) of National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), SINGKABAN FESTIVAL (2015) of Bulacan, CONCERT AT THE PARK (2014-2016) of National Parks and Development Committee, ASEAN TOURISM FORUM (2016) and different local events. Through the years SFCLKM has developed close affiliations with other organizations that have resulted in numerous joint ventures. These groups include: SOLEME MINISTRY (2012), PLMAR DANCE TROUPE (2012-2013), CONFRADIA OUR LADY OF THE ABONDONED (2012-2015), SNES MALAYA MUSIC AND DANCE ENSEMBLE (2013-2016), SJCS DANCE TROUPE (2013), BAYANIHAN PHILIPPINES NATIONAL FOLK DANCE COMPANY (2013), PHILIPPINES FOLK DANCE SOCIETY (2013), DOUGLAS NIERRAS POWERDANCE (2013), INFINITE MOTION DANCER (2013), SAYAW SINING (2013-2014), IJA DANCE TROUPE (2013-2014), TEATRO MARIKENO INC. (2013-2015), SANGHIYAS DANCE INK (2013-2014), TALENTONG LINANG BATANG GALING (2013-2014), MALANDAY KALINANGAN ANAK NG BAYAN (2014) , TEATRO MIGUEL (2014) UNITED ARTS GUILD (2014), TEATRO NI JUAN (2014-2015), MSAYC CULTURAL DANCE ARTIST (2015), BINHIRAYA PERFORMING ARTS GUILD (2015), SNNHS DANCE TROUPE (2015), IKARUS-DITO BAHAY NG SINING (2015-2016) and SINDAW PHILIPPINES PERFORMING ARTS GULD (2013-2016). Having had the opportunity to work side by side with Mrs. Chanyungco, in her various projects, all the SFCLKM members take pride in being able to carry on her same passionate dedication to dance and continue her legacy. As members of SFCLKM continue to promote Filipino art and culture through dance, each one of us take pride in our deep commitment to carry on the legacy of the pioneers of Philippine Folk Dance, not only by restaging their works with utmost artistic and excellent performance levels, but also with hopes of engaging our audiences to be inspired in appreciating this rich form of art of Dance.
