11 Facts About Francisca Reyes-Aquino

Francisca Reyes-Aquino was a Filipino folk dancer and academic noted for her research on Philippine folk dance.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino is a recipient of the Republic Award of Merit and the Ramon Magsaysay Award and is a designated National Artist of the Philippines for Dance.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino studied Physical Education and graduated with a BS Education degree from the University of the Philippines and Sargent College in Boston.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino published a thesis in 1926 entitled "Philippine Folk Dances and Games" where she noted on previously unrecorded forms of local celebration, ritual and sports.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino discovered and taught dances through her books such as Tinikling, Maglalatik, Lubi-lubi, Polka sa Nayon.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino's thesis was made with teachers and playground instructors from both public and private institutions in mind.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino then served at the university as part of the faculty for 18 years.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino served as supervisor of physical education at the Bureau of Education in the 1940s.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino had other books published including Philippine National Dances, Gymnastics for Girls, Fundamental Dance Steps and Music, Foreign Folk Dances, Dances for all Occasion, Playground Demonstration, and Philippine Folk Dances, Volumes I to VI.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino received recognition for her works such as the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1962 and her designation as National Artist of the Philippines for Dance in 1973.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino was posthumously honored with a Google Doodle designed of her popular traditional Filipino dance and it was unveiled on March 9,2019, to celebrate her 120th birth anniversary and for her very excellent contributions in Filipino dancing.