Imelda de Guzman, who has been in Taiwan for 15 months and currently studying a language course at National Chengchi University said in an interview with CNA that the dance took its origin from the Ifugao people in the northern Philippines.

The whole performance includes modified movements and hip-hop beats mixed with traditional music, she pointed out.

Guzman revealed that she hopes to preserve traditional culture of indigenous groups in the Philippines in order to pass it on to the next generation, adding that the performance was a chance to showcase her country's culture.

"This is a chance for me to represent my country," Guzman said, adding that her mother is from the northern part of the Philippines.

"I have the blood and genes of the Ifugao," she noted.

She volunteered to showcase her dance following a Latin American dance performance by a Peruvian and a Colombian student at the annual contest for foreign students held at the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei.

Speaking about her experience about learning Chinese in Taiwan, Guzman said it is not easy to learn, but the country's environment helps her. "Taiwanese people are very warm and they are so helpful to (like) help me out to practice my Mandarin," she said.

"I have many Mandarin speaking friends from Taiwan," Guzman explained, adding that she is looking for work opportunities in Taiwan.

Over 60 students from across 14 countries took part in the annual contest which has been held for the 46th consecutive year since the memorial hall opened in 1972.

Source (both story and photo): Yen, William (2018, November 7) Filipino student showcases Philippine dance in Taiwan. Retrieved from: http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aedu/201811060025.aspx.