Baguio's dancing Lolo Icon continues to bring joy to residents amid the aftermath of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake

With Baguio City among the affected areas of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Abra last week, Lolo Conrado or Lolo Icon believes it is important now more than ever to give people reasons to smile.

“Hindi mababayaran ng one million pesos e. ‘Yung saya nila, the joy na kitang kita how graciously I give them, I want them to be happy, smile, and forget their problem sa mga situation,” he said.

(“The smile that I try to put on people’s faces is priceless. I want them to be happy, and forget their problems– even just for a little while.”)

Lolo Icon shared that he was at home when the earthquake hit.

“Of course, there was a little panic. Tapos kahit luma itong bahay namin, nagpapasalamat kami na we are safe.”

(“We’re very thankful that we’re safe.”)

In Baguio City’s Session Road, Lolo Icon continues to bring joy to residents and tourists alike with his dancing.

According to an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Lolo Conrado, a former dance instructor, began dancing on the streets in 1996.

Armed with an improvised speaker, props, a wooden platform, and his food for the day, Lolo Conrado, who is more popularly known as Lolo Icon, performs with all his heart to brighten up the day of passersby.

“Nandoon ako sa Burnham Park noon and na-notice ko na ang routine ng galaw ng mga tao. So I planned to open ng dance exercise, imbes na lakad nang lakad. I am a choreographer artist,” he said.

(“I was in Burnham Park then and I noticed people’s routines. I thought it’d be nice to plan a dance exercise that people could do.”)

“We are doing it for the joy, we love dancing, we love to make them happy, and then when it comes to mga ganyang financial, it's just voluntary donation,” he added.

Lolo Icon sometimes receives P500 to P1,500 from kind-hearted audience members who appreciate his performance. He uses the money to buy rice, household necessities, and pay utility bills.

This is how he provided for his family all these years, but now he is living by himself. His wife passed away in 2002 due to thyroid cancer, while his two children are now working. One is in Canada and the other is an ESL teacher in Baguio.

“Sinabihan namin ng kuya ko noon na as much as possible huwag sa street dancing sana pero nung nalaman namin na talagang ‘yun ang passion niya magsayaw sila with him para ma-exercise sila,” said Shalo, his son.

(“My brother and I told him before to not do street dancing as much as he used to, but we realized that it’s really his passion to make people dance with him.”)

Lolo Icon said dancing also helps him entertain himself instead of just sitting around and doing nothing in his old age. At home, he listens to music with his old radio.

However, there are times when Lolo Icon witnesses not the joy but the ugly side of human beings when he is out on the streets. One time, his things were stolen even though they were secured by a lock.

“Biruin mo pinaghirapan mo ganun na nanakawin. Minsan sumasayaw pa ako nga harapan ko ang mga tao, ‘Baliw ‘yan! Ginagaya n’yo!’ sa harapan ko. I did not mind them. I even prayed for them,” he said.

(“You worked hard for it and there are people who just steal from me. Sometimes when I’m dancing, people would call me crazy.’”)

Despite such bad experiences, Lolo Icon remains steadfast in his goal to bring joy and positive energy to his fellowmen through dancing.
—MGP, GMA News