When news about him being one of the recipients of the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining 2024, the institution’s highest recognition given to individuals and organizations, dance master and educator Generoso “Gener” Caringal likened it to picking a ripe fruit.
“Bago mo pitasin ang prutas, dapat hinog na hinog. It may seem late, but it tastes as good as ripe fruit,” shared Caringal.
Caringal has been known for creating extensive dance repertoire and masterpieces that have combined ballet, modern dance, and folk dance, seemingly creating a new genre that benefits new generations of artists, choreographers, and audiences.
At the age of 16, he began dancing under Corazon Generoso-Iñigo in the University of the East (UE) Dance Troupe. He participated in off-campus student performances as well, such as Dance Theater Philippines’ (DTP) Mir-i-nisa, 1969, and Maureen Tiongco’s Flower Drum Song.
In 1970, he joined Ballet Philippines (BP) as one of the founding members. The dance companies that he joined enabled him to train in folk dance, with Generoso-Iñigo and Eloisa de Leon; in ballet, with Anita Kane, Eddie Elejar, Mira Zolan, Jan Stripling, Luminita Dumitrescu, Garth Welch, William Morgan, Vakhtang Chabukiani, and Mikhail Kukharev; in jazz, with Generoso-Iñigo, Julie Borromeo, and Matt Mattox; in modern dance, with Generoso-Iñigo, Alice Reyes, Manolo Rosado, Takako Asakawa, Pauline Koner, and Norman Walker; and in Spanish dance with Ruben Nieto and Rose Borromeo.
In 1973, he worked with BP on “Ang Sultan,” one of the most performed pieces by the dance company that drew cheers from the audience, especially during outreach initiatives. Ang Sultan is a modern ballet retelling about star-crossed lovers separated by social status.
He is one of the founders of the Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT), where he created the well-known Philippine Ballet Theater creation Vinta, a neo-classical piece inspired by the colorful sailboat from the southern part of the Philippines. He was also the chair of its artistic council and the artistic director
Another cherished creation is Caringal’s Andres KKK: Ang Buhay at Pag-Ibig ni Andres Bonifacio, which he created in 1996 to commemorate the centennial of the Katipunan revolution. He is simply thrilled that up to this day different dance companies are still staging this creation. Just last year, the piece was performed during the commemoration of Araw ng Maynila.
During CCP’s 40th anniversary, Turning… Turning 40, The CCP Dance Gala in 2009, his creation Likha was staged, which he initially created for the Palikhayaw.
Recently, he created a choreography using the traditional kundiman, which premiered at the University of the East, where he is currently serving as the director of the Office of Cultural Affairs.
Caringal believes that dance is a universal language that knows no age constraints.
“Sa dance wala talagang barrier, you can’t say na hanggang dyan lang iyan. It can reach other people no matter how old they are or regardless of nationality. When you dance, they all look at it as one.”
Caringal perceives his work in the academe sector as a great opportunity to assist in developing and managing a new generation of dance performers.
“I know that the culture and arts students now are different from ours, so I try to integrate what they know, what they want to see, and I put it in what I want them to see, so they can easily absorb and appreciate it,” said Caringal.
Along with Caringal, Jose Iñigo Homer “Joey” Ayala, Maria Lea Carmen Salonga, Jose F. Lacaba, Mario O’hara, Julie Lluch, Gino Gonzales, Loboc Children’s Choir, and Marilyn Gamboa are the recipients of the award. Sen. Edgardo J. Angara and Zenaida “Nedy” R. Tantoco will receive the Tanging Parangal ng CCP posthumously.
The awarding ceremony is slated last September 20, at 7p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, coinciding with the CCP’s 55th anniversary celebration.
For more information, follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. You may also check the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).
