The Lepanto National High School-Gambang Theater Guild (LNHS-GTG) has once again made the Mankayan Municipality proud when eight members of the group were invited to perform during the 2018 Dance Xchange: The Philippine International Dance Workshop and Festival organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The group was one of the two dance groups from the Cordillera Region who were invited to participate in the event.

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            The Dance Xchange was held on April 26-30, 2018 in Dumaguete City, Mabinay City, Bais City, Tanjay City, Bayawan City, Pamplona, Valencia, and Manjuyod, Negros Oriental. It was conceptualized as a Philippine celebration of the International Dance Day and in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 154, declaring the last week of April as the “National Dance Week.” The event was participated in by 15 foreign dance groups and 28 dance groups from the different parts of the Philippines representing various dance genres. It aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the dancers, dance teachers, and choreographers on dances as a creative expression of their culture and to showcase the unique dances of each country to enhance cultural understanding.

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            During the event, the LNHS-GTG members performed at the Convention Center and the Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City. They also joined other foreign and local groups in the various performances in Mabinay and in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental. The Lepanto group showcased the Tayao, a Mankayan cultural dance done to thank and praise Kabunyan for his blessings. They also introduced to the other groups the Benguet Adivay Unity Dance which depicts the different cultural dances of the various ethnolinguistic groups in Benguet.

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            The LNHS – Gambang Theater Guild has been gaining nationwide recognition; from consistently bagging bronze, silver and gold medals in the Benguet Adivay Festial, to performing in national platforms including the Philippine Mining International Conference 2017 held at Sofitel Manila and the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference in Baguio City.

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            The group was sponsored by the NCCA, the Mankayan-Local Government Unit, and the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company.