HISTORY OF PRIME MACHINE: A Historiography

HISTORY OF PRIME

MACHINE

Damaris Joyce S. Torcal

AB Political Science – III

History 79 – A

Prof. Earl Jude Cleope

History 79 Instructor

SIGNED PROPOSAL

APPROVED OUTLINE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE

PAGES

TITLE PAGE

Signed Proposal ………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………… i

Approved Outlines, Answer to 6 questions ……………………………………………………..

……………… ii

Table of Contents ………………………………………………..………………………………………………..……....

iii

Acknowledgement ………………………………………………..…………………………………………………….... iv

I. Introduction ………………………………………………..………………………………………………… 1-2

II.History/Origins ………………………………………………..………………………………………………. 3

A. When and Where did Prime Machine Start

……………………………………………. 3-4

B. Original Members ………………………………………………..……………………………….. 4-5

C. Their Drive to the Formation of the Group

………………………………………………... 6

D. Its Purpose/Goal ………………………………………………..………………………………… 7-8

E. Early Achievements ………………………………………………..……………………………….. 8

a. Gigs ………………………………………………..………………………………………...

8-9

b. Local Performances

……………………………………………………………………... 9

c. Extent of their Prominence

……………………………………………………... 9-11

F. Future Outlook ………………………………………………..…………………………………….. 11

III. Concluding Notes ………………………………………………..……………………………………...

12-15

IV.References ………………………………………………..……………………………………………………. 16

V. Appendices/Pictures ………………………………………………..……………………………...… 17-

20

VI.Curriculum Vitae ………………………………………………..…………………………………………… 21

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The accomplishment of this paper would not have been

possible without the help of our Almighty God. He has served to

be the ultimate source of hope, and symbol of patience and

perseverance that fueled the entire course of this history paper.

It is through Him that the historiography student humbly offers

this achievement and asks that the information in this history

paper would significantly contribute to the society even in the

smallest ways.

The historiography student would also like to extend her

utmost appreciation for the great help, both financially and

morally, that her family and friends has extended upon the entire

process of the paper. It is with sincere gratitude and heartfelt

deference that the student recognizes the presence of these

people in her life for encouraging the best in her, providing

undying support and unconditional love, that sustains the very

source of her inspiration to keep moving forward.

The paper would not have been completed without the help of

the course instructor, Professor Earl Jude Cleope, who deserves

complete acknowledgement and recognition for this history paper.

It is through his guidance and supervision that the history paper

was realized and made possible. The student would like to thank

him for everything.

Lastly, the student thanks the readers for taking the time

to consider this history paper and look into its significance in

the society through facts and information found in it. Thank you

very much.

DAMARIS JOYCE S. TORCAL

Historiography Student

INTRODUCTION

“Movement never lies. Everything that a dancer does on the

stage tells the audience what he is.” This is how Martha Graham,

a major, most influential figure in American Modern Dance,

expressed the colossal importance of movement through dancing.

Dance, as commonly defined, is a patterned combination of

rhythmic bodily movements, usually performed to music, that serve

as a form of communication or expression. In one aspect, dancing

transforms ordinary function and expressive movement into

extraordinary movement for extraordinary purposes. It is of great

importance therefore, since human beings easily express

themselves naturally through movement. People then, of different

cultures, dancing differently and for varying purposes, vary in

forms of dance but can reveal much about their way of life.

Throughout the phase-by-phase evolution of dance in the

world, Philippines had had its fair share of talents. A number of

dance groups have emerged after realizing that a synchronized

dance routine looked far better than a single individual

performing a particular genre of dance. During the late 1980s,

yet unknown to the world, a group of teenage boys with an

immature motivation to form a dance group built their crew on the

strong foundation of close friendship and brotherhood that would

eventually lead them to a nationwide of success in the field of

dancing and choreography.

Like any other aspiring young dancers, they started out as

high school boys moving up the ladder rungs one by one through

competition after competition, and coming home victorious. It

wasn’t easy, but it didn’t matter. None of them ever thought that

dancing was a waste of time, for they did it because it was what

made them happy. They have loved it ever since, and no amount of

effort, pain and struggle had made them want to quit.

By the early 1990s, the name Prime Machine was established.

They extended their reputation as a crew as far as they could

from where they are, throughout the entire Negros Oriental. They

had their own piece of setbacks along the way, some minor

hindrances, a few challenges here and there, but they were able

to pull through all of it and become who they are now. Today,

they bask in the glory of what they have worked hard for, and

claim the title as “Dumaguete Celebrities”.

Prime Machine Dance Crew has been 2011 Dumaguete’s

nationwide representative in the national television show,

Showtime. It has become a well-known dance crew in that,

showcasing their talents and skills last year, they’ve competed

against other amazing and equally talented dance crews all over

Philippines.

HISTORY/ORIGINS

Everything has a beginning. The only one known to have no

beginning and no end is God, all the rest starts somewhere. It is

therefore, of great significance to know how a particular

subject, person or thing, began, and how it has evolved perhaps

so many times throughout the years, for in the process of knowing

comes also learning. A common saying would tell that the best

teacher is experience, and there is no better way to acquire

experience than to go through with life and face whatever it has

to put in your way. Time may stretch as long as it likes, but

from where an object, person or thing, began, it is where his

present will always reflect upon.

When and Where did Prime Machine Start

Approximately around the late 1980s, a group of teenage boys

in their first and second year in high school began the formation

of a dance group. It was by immature and childish reasons that

motivated these boys into forming such a crew, and so they called

themselves, the “Miracle Boys”. Originally, it was from a

northern municipality in the province of Negros Oriental that

these boys thought of forming the dance crew, and the town had

been that of Bindoy since most of the pioneering members were

from the public high school of Bindoy. While about half of them

went school in Bindoy, one member went a little farther away to

Negros Oriental High School (NOHS) in Dumaguete City, making

their crew’s status a little scattered and a bit difficult to

immediately organize at times considering the distance.

It was only around the early 1990s, about two years after

the Miracle Boys was founded, that they decided to change the

name to “Prime Machine” – a name they found out of a book. By

then, they constituted the senior graduating class in each of

their high schools. Consequently, Miracle Boys lasted only for

two (2) to three (3) years, but the group retained the same

members. Prime Machine has lasted for about nineteen (19) years

now, exclusive of the first two (2) or three (3) years that they

existed as the Miracle Boys.

Original Members

It started out with eight (8) friends– in other words, there

were only eight (8) original members of the group (even as they

were still called the Miracle Boys). These members were now only

known by their nicknames – either because they were forgotten by

most, due to the prevailing fact that most of the members are

dominantly from this generation of youth, or that they were “shy”

in letting their real names be known by any of the members at

all. A rough estimate would show that it has been twenty-two (22)

years since the group begun and this constitutes a huge

difficulty in the determination of the original members’ names,

since most of them are no longer an active member of the Prime

Machine crew.

One of them was called “Dodoy”, whose present age is around

twenty-eight (28) or twenty-nine (29), and still a casual or

occasional dancer of the group. However, he is rarely available

to have so much time for the crew due to some other commitments.

He particularly dislikes sharing his real name to anyone but he

is actually called Diosuelee Bolo.

Another member of the original group is called Francis Bolo.

Appearing to be in his early thirties, he’s a brother of the

first original member mentioned. And for like reasons, his

dispossession of luxury of time proved a great hindrance to the

research of their history.

The third pioneering member is also another “Bolo”.

Frequently called by the nickname “Boloknoy”, his real name is

Gregorio Bolo, a cousin of the first two brothers mentioned. One

can imagine where the tight bonds of friendship and brotherhood

came from that made the group a lasting, persevering crew

throughout the years.

One original member of the Miracle Boys was called “Lloyd” –

last name unknown, he is twenty-nine (29) years old. He currently

performs with the crew as well, but still unavailable due to many

reasons.

One member who is no longer with the crew, and whose name is

only heard of on the rarest of times, is called by the nickname

“Bogro”. Only a few knows about him since he left the group, and

only a few is also known of him. None of the present Prime

Machine members knows of his whereabouts today.

Furthermore, the last three (3) members’ identities are no

longer known by today’s generation of Prime Machine members. They

have left the group along the way during their college years and

throughout the time that they began to work. One, however, was

recalled to be popularly known as “Jimboy”, but that was all

there was to know about him. Whereabouts and the time of their

withdrawal from the group cannot be determined. However, one of

the three members is known to be deceased.

Drive to Form the Group

Basically, there was one sole reason for their motives in

forming the group: girls. According to the words of young Prime

Machine member Dwayne Ricardo, all the Miracle Boys had ever

wanted was to “get girls”. Of course, considering the fact that

they were teenage boys in their first and second year in high

school, it was all just for fun back then. Dancing, at that time,

was famous for its charming ability to send ladies head over

heels “in love” with boys of their age. Forming the group and

performing to an audience would give them a little more edge of

advantage against other guys who wanted the same things as they

did. Ultimately, the art of dancing made them the sexy stars of

the 1980s celebrities.

The trend in those days differed from the forms and basis of

today’s dance. It was not based on the content and skill in the

choreography but rather the endurance of the dancers – how long

could the dancers go on dancing in a very long dance routine. The

longest time limit that the group had ever performed had been a

12-minute dance routine.

Furthermore, out of the many techniques with which to

impress the ladies, the original members chose dancing due to the

significant fact that they were a big fan of it. They looked up

to a number of celebrities who showcased their talents on dancing

in the national television. One group they particularly preferred

was that of the Street Boys, composed of Danillo Barrios, Vhong

Navarro, and Jhong Hilario. The Miracle Boys, up to being the

Prime Machine, they made the Street Boys one of their basis,

foundation, inspiration and drive to continue with the crew and

do what they do best. Doing so, also gave them a little

superiority than the others, making it easier to impress their

ladies.

The Crew’s Purpose and Goal

The very purpose why they dance is the very purpose why they

formed the group. In the spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood,

they desire to have that time each day to be together as one

group, perform in unison in a synchronized routine, practice

together, and enjoy each other’s company as they struggle

together towards success every day. It was never an intention to

be on national television, as what most people would expect from

them when asked – surely, that would have been obvious the moment

they desired to dance to impress ladies. Primarily founded on

close bonds of friendship, their only idea of fun was to do what

they love most with the people they highly cherished as well. It

was that one purpose that got them working things out day after

day.

Being on the national television and building up a name for

Dumaguete City in the field of dance was something they never

imagined at first. It was only until they, as members, started to

think about experiencing dance outside the Visayas circle again,

and bringing the name of Prime Machine to new heights.

Supposedly, however, they were supposed to bring the name of

Bindoy to Showtime, since they founded the group in that place.

But since most of the members are now from Dumaguete City, they

resorted to bringing the name of Dumaguete instead.

Nonetheless, after yet another victorious achievement,

basking in the lime lights of being a Dumaguete celebrity, their

present goal is to thank those who have supported them during

their national performances. With the current earth-shaking

events and calamities, the group desires to help the poor victims

of Sendong, and the recent earthquake in Negros Oriental.

Furthermore, they aim to share their talent by putting up

workshops to let the new generation into their group. Age is

something they can’t stop, and as the years go by, none of them

are going to stay young forever. That is why a continuous flow of

additional members to the group is a vital part of their everyday

activities as a crew.

Early Achievements

From Miracle Boys to being the Prime Machine, this dance

crew has built up a strong reputation for itself as it proved

undefeated in the northern areas of Negros Oriental. Their name

was famous and unchallenged in so far as the competitions they

have entered. Even as they rivaled Dumaguete’s top dance crew at

that time, the Tight Beat Crew, they were able to defeat it a

couple of times in the number of times they were challenged

against it. Essentially, as young as the Miracle Boys were, the

rate at which they achieved their step-by-step success was

unstoppable and its speed unmatched. The talk of their developing

prominence was fast-growing, and their budding fame uncontrolled.

Basically, their early achievements ranged from a number of

gigs, to local performances, resulting to a particularly

remarkable extent of prominence from where they began as a rising

crew.

Gigs

Starting out, their gigs had been first limited to local

performances that constituted most of what they used as their

ladder to success. Using each other’s skills, talents, and

connections, they were able to perform at parties upon special

requests like Birthday celebrations, and simple semi-formal get-

togethers among their individual friends and posses. Eventually,

after changing the name to Prime Machine and after conquering

most of Negros Oriental, their gigs extended to debut

celebrations, weddings, beauty pageants and the like, in the form

of invitational requests, compensated performances, special

participations, and some intermission numbers. On top of it all,

after their remarkable presentation in the nationwide television

show, Showtime, their gigs include a team-based innovation of

choreographers, dance instructors, and hired trainers.

Oftentimes, the Prime Machine began receiving requests to judge a

particular dance competition.

Local Performances

Their local performances ranged to a great number of School-

based competitions, Inter-school competitions, and open community

competitions where they constantly reigned as Champs. They have

won countless times that they have been able to build their name

with a flawless reputation teeming with a fountain of talents all

tied down into one group. One by one, performance requests for

competitions and intermission numbers came pouring onto them.

Extent of Prominence

Achieving a degree of popularity and prominence is worked,

struggled and earned by the dancers by way of challenging other

competitors in the field of dancing. Most effectively, through

dance battles, competitions, and showdowns, the get to bring home

the winning name. Therefore, one can expect what the team had to

go through to get to where they are now.

From Bindoy proper, first being limited to the province of

Negros Oriental, their popularity first moved up Northward to

Guihulngan City then to Ayungon. They established a kind of

reputation where they won each and every completion, battle and

challenge until no other dance crew dared challenge them to a

dance off. Doing so would mean a conquered place. Accomplishing

just that, they began moving downward, South of Bindoy, as they

also continued to recruit, train and mold more and more dancers

as the years passed by. They first began conquering Manhuyod,

then Bais City, down to Tanjay, San Jose, and then Sibulan. The

places they skipped along the way were those that didn’t have an

established, organized crew. Dancing then, weren’t as popular as

in those areas previously mentioned within Negros Oriental.

The last place to showcase their talent was Dumaguete City,

and it took them a while before they dared enter its premises.

Ever since, the group’s rival had been the Tight Beat Crew. This

group has existed a few years earlier than that of Prime Machine,

even as it was still called the Miracle Boys. Tight Beat

dominated the Dumaguete City and like the Prime Machine, it was

widely known. It created its own name of an undefeatable crew – a

perfect match for the Prime Machine. Eventually, however, Prime

machine was able to penetrate Dumaguete City and build its own

reputation within the place, challenging Tight Beat in a few

battles or so, and winning them. Moreover, as the years

progressed, more and more recruits have come from Dumaguete City

until it was difficult to say that the crew still belonged to

Bindoy. Some of the original members and those who joined only a

few years after Prime Machine was founded began to move into the

city due to their jobs and their families, basically making the

crew stay in Dumaguete City.

Future Outlook

As of now, future outlooks are limited to short-term goals.

However, all of them had one common viewpoint: to expand the

Prime Machine. This has always been one of its goals even as it

was still on the process of getting somewhere.

Age doesn’t last forever – none of them stays young as the

years pass by, and that one a major reason why they need to keep

enlarging the number of members in the team – even larger than

they regularly do. Not only that, work is another thing that

keeps the members tied down. Dancing doesn’t really guarantee

them easy money, that’s why most of them maintain a job.

Moreover, some, who already have a family of their own, has

to face the reality of their time being divided, thus making it a

little complicated for them to devout themselves with practice,

training and performances – especially now that they are

receiving more requests for performances than they did a few

years ago. These things keep the members in a tight notch, and so

the express need to continuously recruit new members, train them

in the art of dancing and its choreography, and make them the new

generation of Primes who will lead the group to yet another

victory in time. There are no limits as to the number of members,

and the principle “the more, the merrier” suitably applies in

their aim to pass down the legacy of the current Prime machine to

the next generation.

CONCLUDING NOTES

Accomplishing this paper meant a lot to me since I, myself,

am a dancer. I underwent informal training, in the streets, since

my parents thought that it was a waste of my time, and was

meaningless in my transcript at school. Consistently, I have

always thought about dancing as a way of expressing true emotions

– an avenue for which I am capable of freely rendering my

feelings and conveying them to an audience. Yes, performing was

my life – and so, despite the many hindrances and obstacles I

grappled with, I went looking for it. I searched for its true

meaning, its genres, and exposed myself to whatever dance could

offer me as a person, as a developing adolescent, and as a

maturing adult. I gave dancing a space in my thoughts, in my

life, and in my dreams, for when I was in high school, at the

peak of my endeavors in dancing, I dreamed of someday bringing my

skills onward, especially in College, and not letting go of it

like what my parents demanded. I had hoped to be recognized as a

dancer even as I step into a bigger world with a new crowd. So,

when I did, I did what I had to do. At first, I let fear and

anxiety consume me. I didn’t stop my insecurities from clouding

my better judgment, and so, therefore, I wasn’t able to go for

what I had dreamed. However, realizing true potential and innate

determination and passion to push through with whatever I desired

to achieve, I gave myself a second chance and decided to try it

out one more time. I made my dream come true that day when I

decided to listen to myself, and it felt good – really good. It

was about two years ago.

As I went about in making this paper, I felt every single

thing that I felt during that moment of victory for me. When I

dance, I have this great feeling about myself that I’m not only

showcasing my talent to the people but also, in some odd way, I’m

telling them the very fact that this is what I love to do. I have

been trained under the Prime Machine as I performed into one of

the competitions I entered in College, and as I conducted the

interview, it felt like I was part of the group again. I have

learned so many things about dancing while I was under their

capable hands and supervision. They taught me well, and harnessed

the potential that they’ve found in me. They allowed me to enrich

myself in the art and find that there are many things dance could

offer. After my competition, I realized I owe so much of my self-

development to them.

Right about after everything was accomplished, and it was

time to make my paper, I came across the feeling of wanting my

readers to know what it feels like to feel good about themselves.

Not many people has this rare genuine feeling, and some may

misinterpret it as something else, but I wanted my readers to

know how it feels to be contented with ourselves as we strive to

work hard for what we dream of. This dance crew, who has worked

its way to the top, has brought with it the name of Dumaguete

City and brought as well, fame and honor to it by showcasing what

these Dumaguetenos are capable of. They’ve started as a small

group, forming it because it’s what they love to do, and despite

all hardships, they ran the race with all their hearts believing

in themselves. When readers see that in the way these people

lived their dreams, they too are going to believe in themselves

and know that nothing is impossible. They will know the

significance of dreams, and what it could possibly do to affect

the society around them and not just themselves.

I have chosen this crew to be the object of my paper because

it involves my area of interest, and my field of slight expertise.

I’ve had my fair share of performances in my life, and I have to

say, I feel complete – complete because I have done what most

people could not do. I reached for the stars above, I aimed for

something that I know I’m capable of achieving, and I triumphed

in my endeavor to realize my ambition. Moreover, I have seen what

the Dumaguetenos are capable of. The city is buzzing with

burgeoning talent who had the same dream as that of Prime Machine

way back in the day – and seeing this crew work its way through

success, bringing forth an achievement that everyone in this city

can be proud of, is a well of inspiration to all aspiring dance

crews.

Furthermore, this isn’t just about for dance crews. Dreams

are not limited to dancers only, we all know that. The

accomplishment of the Prime Machine tells everyone that anyone

who has a dream they so desire to achieve with all their heart,

can make it happen because it is a choice. Being a happy is a

choice. Being successful is also a choice. It’s the decision that

one makes that will lead him to his desired destiny. Setting an

example, Prime Machine has led me to believe that nothing can

come in your way, so long as you don’t let it stop you.

Perseverance, determination and passion are key values that one

must possess in order to get what they want. These things are not

in-born – true, to some it may be – but in reality, it doesn’t

have to be. They can be worked for – earned and developed. Once

you have these, nothing can go wrong; just set your eyes on the

prize. It’s a natural realization that I should not let anything

hinder me – not my fears, not my anxieties, not my insecurities,

and most certainly not my incapability. Obstacles are normal,

that’s there and it’s expected, but they are meant to be

conquered, not accepted. They are there for a reason: to test you

in your journey to success, whether or not you have the patience

and endurance to fight for whatever it is you desire.

The Prime Machine story has taught me all that – and their

history strengthened me as a person who currently strives for

excellence in my own standards in whatever I do. I strive for

success, not wealth, but for personal contentment and peace. As I

move on with my life and continue in reaching my ultimate desire,

this paper has added to the encouragement that I need in order to

pursue my goal. From what I hear, acquiring what I wish to have

is something that not many people can easily get. I have heard so

many things that lowered my expectation of myself as well as my

own self-confidence and esteem that greatly sways my decision to

pursue my ultimate goal. I have searched for answers, gathered

inspiration, and scoured for enough motivation to fix my decision

to follow my future dreams. Yet, nothing has proved to be enough

and I have begun to see myself as someone unworthy to reach for

my stars. Thankfully, I admire the members of the Prime Machine

for their amazing feat to conquer and reach for the sky. Greatly

driven by their story, I stepped back to look at where I am now

and saw how close I am to achieving my goal. I saw how I am

capable of conquering the hindrances that I created for myself,

and seeing all that made me remember that everything goes and

happens out of a choice – my choice.

REFERENCES

James Penrod and Janice Gudde Plastino, The Dancer Prepares: ModernDance for Begginers (University of California, Irvine, Published byMcGraw-Hills Companies, Inc. in New York, 4th ed.)

Suzanne Youngerman, “Dance.” Microsoft® Student 2009 [DVD].Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.

Brylle Dwayne Ricardo, interview with the author, Sans Rival,Dumaguete City, 11 March 2012

APPENDICES/PICTURES

Picture 1

Prime Machine at Silliman University, Amphitheater during theConcert for a Cause for the victims of Typhoon Sendong (author at

the center)

Picture 2

Prime Machine still at Silliman University, Amphitheater

Picture 3

Author with interviewed respondent, Brylle Dwayne Ricardo (rightof respondent) and some new members of Prime Machine (left side)

Picture 4

Prime Machine getting ready for performance, with new appointedleader (in red cap, side view)

CURRICULUM VITAE

Home Address: Bucana, Sicayab, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, 7101Business Address: Ravello Compound, Laguna, SillimanUniversity, Dumaguete CityHome Phone Number: 0946-538-2632 (TNT)

Damaris Joyce Sarabia Torcal

Date of Birth: 16 November 1992Place of Birth: Quezon City, Metro ManilaNationality: FilipinoCivil Status: SingleReligious Affiliation: Protestant (Grace Gospel Church of Christ)

FAMILY BACKGROUNDFather: Raymundo Calang TorcalOccupation: Marine Electrician (seaman)Date of Birth: 14 August 1964Place of Birth: Surigao CityHighest Educational Attainment: Collegiate level,Electrical EngineeringMother: Juliet Sarabia-TorcalOccupation: HousewifeDate of Birth: 1 January 1966Place of Birth: Dipolog CityHighest Educational Attainment: Collegiate Level,Business AdministrationSibling: Hannani Ethni Joy S. TorcalOccupation: StudentDate of Birth: 13 July 2006Place of Birth: Dipolog CityHighest Educational Attainment: Kindergarten I

Primary E-mail Address: [email protected] E-mail Address: [email protected] Account: [email protected] I.D. Number: 09-1-00081