In 1984, Bert David and his wife Lina were blessed with their third child. His family's life in Edmonton was as fruitful as ever. He had come to this country of plenty and traveled across Canada to follow his dream. His dream was realized with a stable career, a lovely wife by his side and three beautiful children. However, a bigger dream was yet to enthrall this architect from the Philippines. As he reflected on his own struggles in settling in a foreign land, he thought about the journey of the many people from the Philippines who migrated to North America. Many of them have worked hard to achieve success but in the pursuit of the western lifestyle they have lost touch with their roots. He looked at his little daughter's beautiful brown, Filipina eyes and saw the richness of his heritage in her. He knew what he had to do.

At the most pivotal moment of Ninoy Aquino's fight for freedom, the Philippine Barangay Children's Dance Troupe Society came into being in 1984, borne out of one person's dream of sharing the rich Filipino heritage not only with first generation Filipino-Canadians but also with the Edmonton community which has openhandedly embraced people of varying cultures. With help from the Santoses, Acuñas, Sundbergs and first choreographer Nanette Jimenez-Hicks, his dream took off.

Twenty years have passed and as Bert looks back, he is in awe at the unbelievable success this group has achieved. This 'children's dance troupe' two decades ago has evolved into the Philippine Barangay Performing Arts Society of today, known for its creative, authentic and moving showmanship in Philippine folkloric dances and widely recognized for its superb and unbeatable hip-hop performances.

Its repertoire of songs and dances has matured, largely due to the depth of the collective talent of its volunteers and the diverse skills of its performers. The organization's pursuit of its original goal has never wavered. It continues to pursue its objective of enhancing community awareness of the Philippines' rich cultural heritage. Today, the group has grown into a 55-strong member performing arts society.

As Bert sees the current crop of Barangay's little ones run around during practice breaks, his heart is filled with overwhelming pride and his eyes with tears of joy as his simple dream of 20 years ago is fulfilled right in front of him. With the able assistance of a hundred other equally dedicated corps of dedicated parent volunteers and former performers, he is convinced that Barangay's future is bright and secure.