Google celebrates Francisca Reyes-Aquino’s 120th Birthday with an animated doodle

Francisca Reyes-Aquino a Filipino folk dancer and academic noted for her research on Philippine folk dance. Countless other regional dance forms might have been lost forever if not for the efforts of Reyes-Aquino, who is often referred to as the “Mother of Philippine Dancing.” Today search giant Google dedicated an animated doodle to legendary Francisca Reyes-Aquino which depicts her various dances.

Choreographer Francisca Reyes-Aquino is recognized for pioneering research in the documentation of Philippine folk dances and founding the Philippine Folk Dance Society. She codified the folk dances into steps, directions, and musical arrangements that are taught in physical education classes in most schools.

Francisca Reyes-Aquino also 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.