Sariaya launches ‘Valse de Sariaya,’ marks historic milestone in local cultural preservation

By Rowena T. Cruz Students from public and private schools in Sariaya participate in a workshop for the newly created Valse de Sariaya, the ...

By Rowena T. Cruz

Students from public and private schools in Sariaya participate in a workshop for the newly created Valse de Sariaya, the town’s first locally developed folk dance initiative led by the municipal government. (Sariaya Tourism Culture and the Arts Office)

SARIAYA, Quezon — A historic milestone unfolded in this heritage town with the formal creation of the Valse de Sariaya, the municipality’s first locally developed folk dance rooted in local history. The project was led by the Municipal Government of Sariaya under Mayor Marivic T. Gayeta through the Sariaya Tourism, Culture and the Arts Office.

More than a performance, the Valse de Sariaya reflects a strong effort to honor the town’s rich past and celebrate its shared cultural identity. It also creates a meaningful space for community participation and strengthens sustained support for cultural programs across the municipality.



The dance initiative was led by Dr. Ruben de Gracia together with Joe Anthony Basco, dance researcher and instructor, in partnership with the Hiyas Kalilayan Cultural Group. The project involved carefully studying local history and designing movements inspired by Sariaya’s stories, traditions, and lived community experiences.

During the workshop, Basco stressed that folk dance is rooted in storytelling rather than technical display or competition. He explained that its main purpose is to share heritage and collective memory through clear, disciplined, and meaningful movement.

“The first part of our workshop today is to look back at the history of your town,” he said. “As folk dancers, our primary aim is not to showcase how skilled we are. The first and foremost objective of folk dance is to tell the story behind it. Every movement reflects a piece of your culture and a fragment of your history.”

Mayor Marivic T. Gayeta emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in protecting Sariaya’s cultural heritage and traditions. She said lasting cultural work depends on active participation from schools, cultural groups, local leaders, and the wider community.

“Our culture defines who we are as Sariayahins, and it is our shared duty to preserve and promote it for future generations,” Mayor Gayeta said. “Through initiatives like the Valse de Sariaya, we are strengthening our identity while creating opportunities for our youth to take pride in their roots.”

Students from various educational institutions across the municipality joined the initiative in strong support of the cultural preservation effort. Both public and private schools in Sariaya participated, including learners from secondary and tertiary education levels.

School administrators, teachers, and student leaders worked closely together to ensure meaningful involvement in the workshop activities. The DepEd-Quezon Sariaya East District also joined the program to further strengthen coordination and collaboration among participating schools.

The initiative aims to revive local traditions, deepen youth appreciation of community history, and strengthen Sariayahin identity across generations. Through the creation of Valse de Sariaya, the local government affirms that preserving culture is a shared, inclusive, and long-term commitment.