It was a great experience because it was another musical outlet for me. There is a discipline to learning this type of music. I had great teachers who were composers that studied in the Philippines. In a way, this is tradition that's carried on through music. Dance and music are two of the best ways of keeping up our tradition and culture, as well as teaching about history.
Art is a very powerful tool to maintaining our identity.
Art is really so important in every culture. I had this other life before. I'm a dancer, who's in this dance company, which travels constantly, and yet, even though I see the world, I feel isolated. I forget sometimes that I am a Filipino through and through. When I'm in this group, I'm encased, and just so focused on doing my job.