Shaira Comeros receives Ani ng Dangal award
Shaira Comeros receives her Ani ng Dangal award at a program hosted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in Intramuros.
Ballet Manila 2’s Shaira Comeros recently received the Ani ng Dangal award given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
She was recognized for being named as Most Promising Female Dancer at the 2016 Asian Grand Prix International Ballet Competition. She also placed fifth in the Junior B division of the same competition held in Hong Kong.
Now on its ninth year, the Ani ng Dangal or Harvest of Honors celebrates the highest achievements of Filipino artists in the previous year in the categories of Cinema, Dance, Drama, Literature, Music, Visual Arts and Broadcast Arts.
Shaira Comeros with her dad Toto who is also Ballet Manila’s costume maker
Along with other honorees, Comeros received a Sarimanok trophy, representing the mythical bird of many colors from Philippine lore.
In a Facebook post, the 16-year-old Comeros expressed her gratitude for the unexpected honor.
“Isang malaking karangalan na magawaran ng ganitong klaseng parangal at pagkilala. Muling nadagdagan ang inspirasyon ko para magpursigi at pagbutihin pa lalo ang pagsasayaw. Hindi sapat ang mga salita para masabi ko kung gaano ako kasaya. Punong-puno ng pasasalamat ang puso ko (It’s a great honor to receive this kind of award and recognition. This gives added inspiration for me to persevere and do even better in dancing. Words are not enough to describe how happy I feel. My heart is overflowing with gratitude,” she wrote.
Among the many people Comeros acknowledged was her Ballet Manila family. She cited Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde for her generosity, dedication and kindness and co-artistic director Osias Barroso for his constant teaching which, Comeros said, has encouraged her to be a better dancer and person. She also thanked teachers Eileen Lopez and Jonathan Janolo, and Macuja-Elizalde’s parents, Cesar and Susan Macuja, for their support.
The NCCA hosted the Ani ng Dangal program on February 27 at the Ayuntamiento in Intramuros, Manila, also as part of its celebration of National Arts Month.
Comeros attended the program with her father, Toto Comeros, who is also Ballet Manila’s costume maker.
The young ballerina joined Ballet Manila in early 2016 and became a member of BM 2 shortly after.
Aside from joining the Asian Grand Prix last August, Comeros was also a finalist in the Junior Category of the 2nd Cultural Center of the Philippines Ballet Competition last November.
Comeros has said she dreams of dancing as Kitri in Don Quixote someday.
Carrying her Sarimanok trophy, Shaira Comeros stands beside a panel showcasing her achievements in dance.
