Filipino dance groups at the ASB Polyfest

Photo c/o RMO

"When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind" (African proverb). 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the ASB Polyfest. There were 22 Auckland high schools with Filipino dance groups. Last year it was only 11 and the years past, I believe was even smaller.

The performances were at the Diversity Stage with heaps of other dance groups dancing to a myriad of dances from Filipino, Fijian, Hawaiian, Mongolian, Chinese, Colombian, Scottish, Roma, African, and some more that I know were also present. All of these groups were squeezed into two days, Wednesday and Thursday. It used to be spread over three days but funding constraints this year made it two.

I only got to see the Filipino dance groups from Alfriston College and Onehunga College perform. The rest I could only catch a glimpse on the live stream or in the different social media accounts of the participants. All of them were quite impressive and very creative! The theme for this year was "Legacy - a treasure handed down."

My Pinoy students from Otahuhu College also joined for the second time this year. Just like all the other students from the 22 colleges, they prepared really hard, made heaps of sacrifices with their time and bodies, and was truly all out in presenting our Filipino culture and heritage. I always made them feel that this is not just a competition but a celebration of being Filipino. An old-timer (a teacher, who participated in the early years, mentioned to me that, back then the Diversity stage was non-competitive).

Since the Philippines falls under the Asian Continent category here are the winners for 2025. Just like last year when it was an all-Filipino winners (1st Avondale College, 2nd One Tree Hill College, 3rd Otahuhu College), this year it's again an all-Filipino one: 1st Kelston Girls' College, 2nd Ormiston Junior College, 3rd Avondale College.

The overall winners for the Diversity Stage are: 1st Kelston Boys' HS (Fijian group), 2nd Kelston Girls' College (Filipino group), 3rd Ormiston Junior College (Filipino group). Congratulations and all the best to the winners, as well as all the participants too. Mabuhay!