On the occasion of the granting of the Ramon Magsaysay Award to the BAYANIHAN FOLK ARTS CENTER and its supporting entities, I wish to recall that it was the successful practice by the late President Magsaysay of the traditional Filipino bayanihan (working together) way of life which inspired us to adopt the name "Bayanihan" for the pioneering efforts of Philippine Women's University to revive, preserve and disseminate our people's folk arts and folkways.
I recall that soon after his election President Magsaysay recruited many of us—private citizens who were not involved in the political campaign—to work with and for the government on a voluntary basis. This widespread recruitment resulted in the organization of the Rice Commission, the President's Good Neighbor Commission for Asian Countries, the Cultural Committee for the Brussels Exposition, the President's San Luis (Pampanga) Rural Reconstruction Committee and others. This mobilization of private citizens and civic organizations found culmination in the official presidential declaration of June 30, 1955 as Civic Organizations Day. On that day for the first time in our country all the leading civic organizations of the Philippines met together in Manila with the late statesman and former president Sergio Osmena as guest speaker, to manifest their common desire to work together for the general welfare in the spirit of the ancient bayanihan folkway.
And when the original commitment of President Magsaysay to send a cultural mission to the Brussels Universal Exposition was honored by President Garcia, it was again the old Filipino bayanihan tradition that inspired us in the Philippine Women's University to offer to our government the Philippine Bayanihan Dance Company, with the BAYANIHAN FOLK ARTS CENTER conducting the research and training and a Citizens and Parents Committee in charge of fundraising and arrangements.
Perhaps on this occasion it is worthwhile pointing out how the bayanihan way of President Magsaysay underlies the success underscored by the granting of this Award.
In line with the mission of all true universities of promoting research, conserving, teaching and transmitting a nation's cultural heritage, and in taking cognizance of a similar pioneering undertaking under the leadership of the late Dr. Jorge Bocobo, President, University of the Philippines, the BAYANIHAN FOLK ARTS CENTER was officially created. Its goal was to revive not only folk music and dance for the Brussels Program, but also all other forms of folkways and arts, and to open participation to entities outside the Philippine Women's University. In this undertaking not only were other departments of the PWU directly involved but also private citizens and government officials in the true bayanihan way.
To formalize citizen support, the Bayanihan Folk Arts Association was set up thus giving an outlet for civic-minded citizens who are able and willing to help their neighbors and their country. Bayanihan is a concrete exemplification of democracy and Christianity in action. I consider the success of our Bayanihan organizations a fitting tribute to the memory of Ramon Magsaysay. I am happy and proud to make this public acknowledgment on behalf of all who made contributions and helped in the creation of this dance team.
In conclusion, having demonstrated in a particular project the value of the bayanihan way of working together, we are pledged to continue to diffuse the idea of a way of life that was above all exemplified in the man we honor today — Ramon Magsaysay.
