RAMON A. OBUSAN Anthropologist / Ethnomusicologist Ramon A. Obusan first came into the Philippine dance scene in 1964 as a member of the world-renowned Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company. As a dancer and researcher, he took many trips around the remote areas of the archipelago recording songs and chants, dances and poetry, and collecting tribal costumes and musical instruments. He balanced a career in performance with a real desire to learn, and later, teach the traditions behind his craft while pursuing a degree in Anthropology at the University of the Philippines. In 1971, he founded the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, leaning on the vast amount of data and artifacts he had accumulated. The group aimed to mirror the traditional culture of the Filipino through dance. Authenticity was and still is the main drive, while keeping a flair for good theater. To date, he directs one of the leading dance companies of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group has successfully completed Asian, European and American tours and for the past twenty eight years, documented the rituals of more than fifty Philippine ethno-linguistic groups. His works includes the creation of twelve outstanding full-length Filipino dance works, among which are the remarkable suites from the Cordillera mountains, the Bagobo, the Tausug, the Maranao, and the Negrito-highlighting the authenticity of movements and costumes of these people. In 1982, as designated Artistic Director of the first Asian Dance Company, his dancers not only performed Philippine dances but of other Asian countries in Singapore. During the same year, he directed the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) video-documentary on Philippine dance, "Sayaw" where he won the grand prix award in the "International Video Dance Competition" in France. He was conferred the CCP Gawad Para Sa Sining Para Sa Sayaw in 1993 for his scholarly researches into Philippine folk dances and art forms and for his relentless pursuit of excellence in traditional dances and music. In 1998, Obusan and his group represented the Philippines in London, Paris, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey for the celebration of Philippine Centennial. He was commissioned by the Philippine Department of Tourism in the revival of Philippine 'fiestas' and festivals and the construction and decoration with historical significance of floats during the centennial parade. Ramon Obusan has extensively given lectures and led outreach programs nationally and in the US, to ensure his work does not only satisfy the theater-going public, but also show the man on the street the beauty of the culture around him that he would otherwise miss.