Rigodon de Honor
By Ignacio R. Bunye
June 15, 2008

The 110th commemoration of our nation's independence was marked with the return of the Rigodon de Honor as a highlight of the traditional Vin d' Honneur for the diplomatic corps. It was considered another step in line with efforts to restore the best of the old traditions of Malacañan Palace and the presidency, display pride in Philippine customs, and contribute to the revival and promotion of Philippine ceremonial dance.

The last rigodon de honor danced at Malacañan, in the Ceremonial Hall (now Rizal Hall), was on June 30, 1981, as a highlight of the ball commemorating the third inauguration of President Marcos.

I sought the assistance of Jeremy Barns, palace museum curator, for some insights into this courtly tradition.

According to Mr. Barns, the Rigodon de Honor has for generations been considered the most refined of the country's ceremonial dances. It is a quadrille or square dance that has its roots in 17th century France (invented by a dancing master named Rigaud at the court of Louis XIII), and was introduced into the country from Spain in the 19th century.

At Malacañan Palace, the Rigodon was featured on the most important of state occasions, one of the earliest known instances being on January 23, 1878, to commemorate the birthday of King Alfonso XII of Spain. The dance, which gradually evolved through the remainder of the Spanish and the subsequent American colonial periods to become uniquely Filipino, was brought to its height of elegance and refinement by President Manuel Luis Quezon, and was performed during the Commonwealth and in the subsequent presidencies of the Republic to give honor and distinction to official festivities.

At the Palace, the dance used to be performed to music given by the Constabulary band, at state functions with high government officials, guests and their spouses participating, led by the President and First Lady together with the guest of honor or next highest official and his lady (both couples making up the cabeceras). So frequent and prestigious was the rigodon that the Palace had an official dance master in the person of Don Manuel Yriarte (who actually died of a heart attack in 1930 during a ball for the Legislature given at Malacañan while directing the rigodon) and afterwards, during the Quezon years, Felipe Buencamino. President Quezon's love of dancing was legendary, and what is today Heroes Hall was at that time fitted out with a permanent dance floor. At the Palace in those years, the male dancers were requested to wear formal mess jackets or white tuxedo, black pants and black tie for the rigodon. The women, except Muslim and foreign women, were requested to come in traje de meztiza or terno, the native formal attire for women, characterized by butterfly sleeves, stiff pañuelo, and long train.

State functions in honor of distinguished visitors or to commemorate important occasions (such as presidential inaugurations and state visits), anniversaries or holidays (especially Independence Day on July 4, and later June 12) inevitably featured dancing. It was the practice that after the opening of the ball with the rigodon, the next number would be something more modern and lively, such as a waltz, foxtrot, tango or conga. After the war, the rigodon remained a feature of official Palace life well into the Roxas and Quirino administrations, afterwards becoming less frequent as the role of dancing in official functions declined.

For the revival of the Rigodon for this year's Independence Day celebration, the President handpicked the participants and took the time to occasionally drop in on their rehearsals. At one rehearsal, I understand that she also gamely learned the steps, partnering with Secretary Art Yap.

The twenty couples who performed the Rigodon were: Congressman Albert Garcia and Congresswoman Carissa Coscolluela; Mayor Freddie Tinga and Ms. Zareen Baqir; Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III and Ms. Abby Ramos Claudio; Mr. Butch Ramirez and Mayor Jenny Barzaga; Congressman Mark Enverga and Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon; Mr. John Gaddi and Ms. Joanne Reyes; Ambassador David Pine and Ms. Assunta de Rossi-Ledesma; Governor Leo Campos and Ms. Angie Cadungog; General Arturo Lomibao and Ms. Elizabeth Lee; Congressman Robbie Puno and Atty. Patricia Bunye; Mr. Sonny Tanchanco and Ms. Paula Locsin Bondoc; Congressman Martin Romualdez and Ms. Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo; Mr. Nestor Jardin and Ms. Tessa Prieto Valdez; Mr. Alex Macapagal and Ms. Anna Marie Periquet; Congressman Joboy Aquino and Ms. Marissa Andaya; Congressman Dato Arroyo and Mayor Kimi Cojuangco; Secretary Arthur Yap and Ms. Lani Mercado Revilla; Former Senator Tito Sotto and Ms. Mons Romulo Tantoco; General Generoso Senga and Congresswoman Rachel Arenas; Secretary Peter Favila and Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

The entire Independence Day reception and Rigodon de Honor was directed by Ms. Lupita Kashiwahara. Choreography was by Ms. Bujing Danao and Ms. Dalah Pia, assisted by Mr. Renato Delgado and Mr. Jerry Mercado. Music was by Gloria Gatmaitan and her band.

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