Students participate in Pila Day streetdancing

RILI students showed a variety of formations and dance moves at the Street Dancing Competition as part of the 440th Pila Day.

In celebration of Pila's 440th anniversary, high school students from all secondary schools within the municipality participated in a street dancing competition held July 29, 2015. Each school showed a piece of Pila's long history through dance as they paraded through the streets.

After the parade, participants performed an encore at the municipal plaza, the endpoint of the route.

All students from Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. (RILI) in the high school department participated in the event. Clad in green and gold, RILI students maintained clean lines and kept their formations tight.

However, it was Liceo de Pila who took the first prize, while Don Manuel Rivera Memorial National High School and Linga National High School landed in second and third place respectively.

The other participating schools were San Antonio de Padua College Foundation of Pila, Laguna, South Greenville School, Masico National High School, St. Therese School of Arts and Sciences, and Colegio Monterei de Pila Child Development Center.

RILI choir takes 2nd place in competition

The Bahaghari Chorale sang Batang-Bata Ka Pa by the Apo Hiking Society arranged by conductor Mr. Christian Samarista to land in second place in their maiden competition.

The newly formed Bahaghari Chorale of Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. landed in 2nd place at the first Harana sa Bayan choral competition held July 27, 2015 at the municipal plaza as part of the 440th Pila Day festivities. The choir is composed of students from Grades 4-6.

Choirmaster Mr. Christian Samarista arranged Apo Hiking Society's Batang-Bata Ka Pa for the group to suit the chorale's young voice. The group's interpretation of the song landed them in 2nd place in their first ever competition. This is despite having only about one month to prepare and train. Some of the students didn't even have experience singing in class.

The RILI choral group competed against singing groups from Colegio Monterei de Pila Child Development Center (CMP) and Pila Central Elementary School. CMP took first place while Central placed 3rd.

There was also a high school category for the competition. Linga National High School took first place, Liceo de Pila was 2nd, and Don Manuel Rivera Memorial National High School was 3rd.

The Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group was also part of the event. They provided a special number during intermission breaks.

Bahaghari dancers welcome VP Binay to Pila

Members of the Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group performed
"Sayaw sa Bangko" to entertain the audience after Vice
Presiden Jejomar Binay's speech.

Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group (BCDG), the official folk dance group of Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. (RILI) joined the municipality of Pila, Laguna in welcoming Vice President Jejomar Binay during his visit, July 26.

BCDG opened the program by rendering a doxology during the Provincial Pabahay Caravan held in the morning at Ken-Yo Garden Resort. Later that day, the group entertained the audience after Vice Pres. Binay addressed the people of Pila.

Aside from the housing caravan, Vice Pres. Binay was the guest of honor in the unveiling of the proposed restoration plan of Pila Heritage Museum and in the blessing and ribbon-cutting of Pila's lying-in clinic.

Bahaghari dancers win 3rd place in contest, perform for Pila Day

The members of the Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group in one of
their formations during the Interpretative Dance Competition.

The Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group (BCDG), the official folk dance group of Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. (RILI), won 3rd place in the Interpretative Dance Contest held July 29 at the municipal plaza of Pila, Laguna. Prior to their competition, the group also performed during the Cultural Night Presentation, July 27, in the same venue.

Though happy and contented, newly elected BCDG president Kate Aprilyn Surbano said that their podium finish was unexpected. She said "It was a surprise for us because we all thought all the other teams were better than us. We also didn't use too much props like the other groups." She also added that the group really practiced hard and focused on making the performance competition level.

BCDG competed against four other dance groups from other secondary schools in Pila--South Greenville School (SGS), San Antonio de Padua College Foundation of Pila, Laguna, Inc. (SAPC), Masico National High School (MNHS), and St. Therese School of Arts and Sciences (STSAS). STSAS won the competition while MNHS landed in the 2nd place.

All competing groups interpreted the song Simulan Mo Sa Isang Pangarap by Bugoy Drilon.

Bahaghari dancers balance earthen pots on their heads while
performing a dance from the Cordilleras called "Banga".

Two days prior to the contest, BCDG also performed at the municipal plaza for the Cultural Night Presentation. The group performed seven folk dances taken from their second concert, Padayon.

Other schools and organizations also participated in the event. In between BCDG's performances, teachers from the public schools presented an ethnic-inspired dance number. After BCDG's presentation, Colegio Monterei de Pila (CMP) presented a dance number accompanied by bamboo percussion instruments.They were followed by SAPC who presented two folk dances. The last performing group were the employees of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) who performed another folk dance.

BCDG received a cash prize and a certificate for their 3rd place finish in the contest. RILI, represented by the group, received a plaque of appreciation for their performance in the Cultural Night Presentation. 

Pila celebrates 437th year

Mayor Edgardo Ramos reports the accomplish-
ments of his government.

Pila celebrated its 437th founding anniversary, July 28, with a program held at the Municipal Quadrangle.

The municipal government held activities and rendered services to the residents of Pila such as vegetable seeds distribution, distribution of PhilHealth membership cards, mobile NBI clearance, medical and optical missions, job fairs, and blood donation.

The program started with a prayer and doxology from public school and day care center pupils. Dr. Edna Hemedez, district supervisor, gave her opening remarks. Mayor Edgardo Ramos then gave a report of accomplishments of the local government. Vice Mayor Querubin Relova, Jr. also gave his message to the Pileños which was followed by a narration of the history of Pila from the pre-Hispanic era by Colegio Monterei de Pila.

Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group entertains the audience with a
dance that reflects Pila's history.

Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. (RILI) also took part in the program. RILI's official folk dance group, Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group, rendered two folk dances which reflect the history of Pila. Other private schools and the pupils of the different Day Care Centers also rendered special numbers.

The first dictionary in the Philippines--Vocabolario de Lengua Tagala--was printed in Pila. The National Historical Institute declared Pila's town plaza a historical landmark in 2000. Two years after, the Catholic church declared Pila's parish as the Diocesan Shrine of San Antonio de Padua. This makes Pila the only town in the Philippines that is declared a historical landmark by both the government and the Catholic church.