In a Memorandum of Agreement received by the College last June 21, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) awarded a 500,000.00 worth of research grant to the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) for the conduct of research entitled, “Transmission of Egongot Indigenous Dances in Aurora: A Documentation.”

Proposed by three of our College’s faculty members, including Dr. Jocelyn H. Diaz, Sir Joshua D. Dela Cruz, and Sir James Matthew B. Viernes, the said research primarily focuses on the transmission of indigenous dances from the oldest members of the community up to the youngest members. It aims to document the transmission processes using the latest technology available.

The study is being conducted in the Egongot community in Brgy. Bayanihan, Maria Aurora, Aurora, from May to December 2022.

Based on the research results, the researchers will produce video documentation and dance literature for each dance. The outputs will be used as a primary reference when performing Egongot dances on the different platforms, to present authentic dance steps.

Specifically, the SINDAYAW Performing Arts Guild of Aurora State College of Technology will restage the dance and include it in the repertoire of the group in every presentation. By doing that, the authenticity and preservation of dances will be achieved. It will be posted on social media since the pandemic limits the gathering.

In a Facebook post, the College President, Dr. Eutiquio L. Rotaquio, Jr., congratulated the researchers and expressed his hope of receiving more research funding grants from various funding agencies that will be of great contribution to the further improvement of knowledge for the College’s stakeholders.