Founder of the Parangal Dance Company. Before Parangal, he was a dancer and musician of another Philippine folk dance troupe, the Barangay Dance Company of San Francisco, for over 15 years. He was a Dance Master in Barangay from 1995-2001, and then became its Artistic Director for 3 years before starting Parangal. He has trained with Bayanihan, the Philippine national folk dance company, renowned folk dance authority, Ramon Obusan, Philippine Normal University's Kislap Sining Dance Troupe, and Maguindanaoan and Ifugao experts. Eric's aspiring goal for Parangal is to be one of the leaders advancing Philippine culture in mainstream America; preserving and promoting Philippine culture and arts along with our brothers and sisters, partners, and supporters. 

Widely known as Manong Ben since 1975, has been teaching elementary and high school students about leadership and serving the community through Philippine folk dancing, sharing strategies in attracting corporate sponsorships, building an award winning state-of-the-art community center and senior housing, and mentoring business owners or community-based organizations about Servant Leadership, he truly knows how to make "outside the box" ideas work successfully. He is a community and business developer focused on the economic empowerment of individuals and groups, especially in underserved, underdeveloped AND developing communities. Manong Ben is a graduate of the UC Santa Cruz. He is an officer of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations and the Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce. He is the recipient of the "Gold Nugget" award by the Builders Association Magazine.

Mother, wife, daughter, sister, dancer, teacher, triathlete, and world traveler.  She is a Filipina American born and raised in San Francisco who found her identity through SFSU's Ethnic Studies department and dancing with Barangay Dance Company, Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre, and APDT's collaboration with the Magui Moro Master Artists and the Ifugao Music & Dance Ensemble of Banaue. She is honored to be a member of the Parangal family and looks forward
to the company's success

Karina Fantillo-Cruz was a veteran dancer of the Barangay Dance Company of San Francisco from 1988-2003. Her Philippine folk dance training includes workshops with Bayanihan, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Philippine Normal University's Kislap Sining Dance Troupe, and Sining Kumintang ng Batangas. She has taught Filipino folk dance to individuals, schools, and church organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. She currently works as the Fellowship Coordinator at The J. David Gladstone Institutes, assisting scientists in applying for grants to fund their medical research. Ms. Fantillo-Cruz joined Parangal in 2009 and currently serves as Executive Director, managing the administrative aspects of the Company.