18 March 2014 – World renowned Filipino dance sport athlete Rodel Espinosa performed in a ballroom dance event entitled “Shall We Dance?— A Ballroom and Disco Party,” on March 09.  The event was attended by more than a hundred dance sport and ballroom enthusiasts from the Filipino community.

On behalf of the Philippine Embassy in Rome, Vice Consul Jarie Osias, in his remarks, congratulated Mr. Espinosa for his dancing prowess and for serving as an inspiration to all Filipinos that they can succeed in pursuing their dreams no matter how difficult.

Mr. Espinosa was not born a natural dancer.  At age 16, he was a karate and kickboxing practitioner who had no inclination to dance.

But through sheer determination and years of continuous practice, Mr. Espinosa was able to develop and enhance his dancing skills, enabling him to win numerous international dance sport competitions in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, United States and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Espinosa has also done several television performances and appearances in “Shall We Dance” and “Dance with the Celebrities” with actress/congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez, as well as in “Pinoy Big Brother.”  

He established the Dance Sport Council of the Philippines to train the younger Filipino generation in succeeding in the sport.

The husband of a Filipina migrant worker in Barcelona, Spain, Mr. Espinosa was likewise affected by the Filipino diaspora.  In 2012, he was petitioned by his wife Ramina to join her as a migrant worker in Spain.

Mr. Espinosa, although now based in Barcelona, would not give up his passion for dancing.  He put up the Federacio Catalana de Ball Esportiu (Catalan Dance Sport Federation) to continue teaching dance skills to everyone who wants to learn the sport.

This year, in cooperation with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Barcelona, Mr. Espinosa has started training Filipinos in Spain with the hope of producing a Filipino dance sport champion in Europe and the world.

In his message to the Filipino community in Rome, Vice Consul Osias quoted St. Augustine of Hippo to show that “dance” is an instrument for positive change:  “Learn to dance, so when you get to heaven the angels know what to do with you.” He added: “Ang mga taong nagtatagumpay ay yaong mga taong natutong sumayaw sa agos ng buhay”. END