Consistent with its goals, the President's Committee on Arts and Culture (PCAC) organized the PLM Hiyas ng Maynilad Dance Company and Rondalla, and the PLM Choral Society and the PLM Choraliers in February 1981. These official cultural groups of the University drew members from among faculty members and employees, and students of the different colleges of PLM.

Creditable Performances

Development, Preservation, Revival of Arts, Culture and Sports

In keeping with the University’s ultimate goal of academic excellence, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) created the President’s Committee on Arts, Culture, and Sports through Administrative Order No. 1981-01 dated 15 April 1981. With Atty. Edelita F. Reyes as chairperson, Mrs. Luningning C. Lorenzo and Dr. Benjamin G. Tayabas as members, PCACS actively undertook series of projects and activities according to its assigned task which is to serve as a central advisory and coordinating unit for all extra-curricular programs undertaken by the University and its various colleges and units to the development, preservation and revival of arts, culture and sports.

On November 17-27, 1990, the group represented the Philippine in the 1990 Cultural Dance Festival in Tokyo, Japan, where the dancers drew raves from a very appreciative audience composed of foreign students studying in Japan and their families.

PCACS looks back with pride and satisfaction to the creditable performances of these cultural groups.  The PLM Hiyas ng Maynilad Dance Co., together with the student, faculty and employee choral groups, made their debut performance during the University’s 15th anniversary celebration in 16 July 1982 when they were featured in a two-hour show called “Sayawitan sa Pamantasan ‘82.” This  presentation was followed by several other performances within the campus and before international audiences  such as the “International Night” in September 1982, at the University of the Philippines Institute of Small-Scale Industries, the “Barrio Fiesta” dinner for the Philippine-Korean Law Conference delegates at Puerta Real in December 1982, the Metro Manila Interaction Day for the Kammerchor-Frankfurt Choir of West Germany in January 1983 and a performance for the delegates of the Manila International Film Festival in February 1983. The PLM Hiyas ng Maynilad Dance Company, with the PLM student Choral Society opened the Puerta Real Evenings Season in January with “Pasiklaban ‘83”. The dance company was also invited to grace other important occasions in the provinces, and at the Philtrade and the Philippine International Convention Center. On 10 September 1982, the dance company entertained some 2,000 delegates to the Lawasia Conference at PICC. On 03 February 1984, they participated in a cultural extravaganza on the Ruby Anniversary celebration of the Liberation of Manila held at the PLM quadrangle.

The official cultural groups were later on headed by Dean Alejandro Dagdag, Dr. Priscilla Miñas, Dr. Romeo Barrios and Mrs. Daisy Suministrado. The present chairman is Mrs. Susan C. Mercado.

The PLM Student Choral Society brought honors to the University by winning in choral contests which included placing third in the Christmas Carol Festival sponsored by Philtrade in 1982, 2nd runner-up in the “Manila Himig ‘82” contest sponsored by the Rotary Club of Manila in January 1988 and topping the Christmas Choral contest called “Villancios en Casa Manila” sponsored by the Intramuros Administration in December 1988.

The PLM Student Choral Society enjoyed expert tutelage from various choir directors, foremost of whom was Angie Bacho-Manalili, multi-awarded director of many well-known choir groups. Mr. Manuel Aparri, an ingenious and talented choreographer, ably assisted by Mrs. Daisy F. Suministrado who succeeded in teaching the PLM amateur dancers the rudiments of the folk dance art.