THE GOOD LIFE

Alcedo Dances His Way To College

by MEGS S. LUNN

Dr. Russ Patrick Perez Alcedo

Patrick & Megs

Hail to Aklanon born Dr. Russ Patrick Perez Alcedo, who successfully launched his film screening of Ati-Atihan Lives and Ati-Atihan: Mothers of Philippine Festivals on July 24, 2012 at Latte Café, Kalibo, Aklan. Canada’s Social Science Humanities Research Council sponsored the launching.

It is a documentary film and visual essay Dr. Alcedo himself wrote, directed and produced. The Ati-Atihan: Mother of Philippine Festivals and Panaad: A Promise to the Santo Nino are distributed by the Alexander Street Press, an award-winning U.S. Film distribution company. 

A proud Aklanon, Russ Patrick Perez Alcedo graduated at Kalibo Pilot Elementary School and Aklan Catholic  College. He is a U.P. Diliman alumnus, a former member of UP’s Department of English and Comparative Literature. 

In 2005, he became the only Filipino scholar to have won a full scholarship from the Asian Cultural Council of New York City, previously known as the Rockefeller Brother’s Fund. Under the auspices of this international Arts Council, and through its Ford Foundation Grant, he received his Ph.D. in Dance History and Theory from the University of California, Riverside.

In 2007, Dr. Alcedo was awarded the Rockefeller Humanities Fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, D.C. Among the 10 international fellows selected that year, Dr. Alcedo was the sole scholar from the region of Southeast Asia.

Besting close to 40 applicants from all over the world, Dr. Alcedo received a Professorship in the Department of Dance at York University, Toronto, Canada - a much coveted tenure-track, permanent university position. This position made him the first and the only Filipino appointed professor at York University. At this top-ranked Canadian University which students population averages close to 60,000, per year. Alcedo teaches courses in dance studies and dance ethnography at the undergraduate, Master’s, and Ph.D levels. Last year, he was awarded “Most Outstanding Professor” for excellence in teaching at the Faculty of Fine Arts. 

The leading Filipino-Canadian magazine once featured him in the front cover and the cover story in its winter issue of Tahanan, because of his several achievements.

His first multimedia project Boxing To Be The Next Pacquiao is published in the New York Times. The volume Religious Festivals in Contemporary Southeast Asia, of which he is the lead editor, is forthcoming with the Ateneo de Manila University Press. His chapters on the intersections among ethnicity, indigenous and religious identities, and performance are also forthcoming in the anthologies of Palgrave University Press and Oxford University Press, publishing houses based in London, England.

Currently, he holds Canada’s Social Science Humanities Research Council creation grant for his work on performance, immigration, and emotional labor among Filipino caregivers in Toronto. In April 2011, the province of Aklan awarded Alcedo “Most Outstanding Aklanon”. The Filipino Centre of Toronto also awarded him “Most Outstanding Filipino-Canadian” in recognition of his exemplary academic and artistic accomplishments. 

Over-all, his documentary depicts more than just a storyline of real stories of blessedness from our dear Sto. Nino. With the anticipation of the participation of the “Ati”, without boundaries, he showed in the documentary that no matter what race or color a man is, he can show the world that ‘he is what he is.’ It showed truthfulness of his subject and proud to shout to the world, our deep faith in God, through the Feast of Sto. Nino, celebrated through the famous Ati-Atihan Festival. It was Aklanon, truly world class.  

Dr. Alcedo’s accomplishments and recognitions are propelled by “Honesty and Humility”. Growing up in a diverse environment and culture, Patrick always speaks from the heart. “I do not pretend that I know. I am very honest with myself.” 

Indeed, talking to Dr. Alcedo, one will never feel any “air”, but feels his sincerity and compassion. His passion in what he does and his aim to standard of excellence propelled him to be where he is now.  His honesty and genuineness captured the hearts of Canadian people yet, he remains humble as ever. Through his works, he offers hope to every Filipino who dreams of things that never were. He brings honor to our country, especially to the province of Aklan.  /MP