Althea Leigne I.

Daruca
Grade 12/ABM-Einstein

ACTIVITY 2.2
 Enrichment Activity : Write something about “Francisca Reyes Aquino”.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino was a Filipino folk dancer and academic noted for her research
on Philippine folk dance. She is a recipient of the Republic Award of Merit and the Ramon Magsaysay
Award and is a designated National Artist of the Philippines for Dance.

On March 9, 1899, Francisca Reyes-Aquino, the country's pioneer researcher on

traditional Philippine folk dances and music and known as the mother Philippine folk dancing, was
born in Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan.

Francesca was the eldest of the three children of Felipe Reyes and Juliana Santos. She had her early
schooling at the Meisic Elementary School, Tondo Intermediate School and Manila High School in
Tondo, Manila. She obtained her High School Teacher's Certificate (HSTC) in 1923, her Bachelor of
Science in Education degree in 1924 at the University of the Philippines (UP) and her Master of Arts
degree in 1926 also at the UP.

In 1922, while still studying at the university, she worked as student

assistant at its department of physical education. After graduating, she
served there as instructor of physical education, then assistant physical
director and, finally, as director in charge of women. In 1927, Dr.
Jorge Bocobo; then UP president, sent her to the provinces to research
on folk songs and dances. As a result, the university was able to
exhibit Philippine dances at the Philippine Carnival Auditorium

   In 1929, as a UP fellow, she took graduate courses in physical

education at the Sargent College of Physical Education, Boston
University, where she received her certificate in physical education in
1931. She also attended the summer session at Harvard University in
1930. Upon resuming her position at UP as Physical director for
women in 1930, she continued her research.

(Francisca Reyes-Aquino
(Photo credit: Ramon
  
Magsaysay Award
Foundation))