Pia Moran and I Met at Dance Forever D4E! Concert

Ni Oggie Medina

I first met dancer Pia Moran at Broadcast City’s canteen in Quezon City years ago. I told her I was just visiting my uncle, broadcast journalist Felipe “Jun” Medina Jr., general manager of IBC 13, and I was later a quiz contestant in Jeanne Young’s “Spin-a-Win” show on RPN Channel 9.

I remember previous to seeing Pia, I saw in my uncle’s office Armida Siguion-Reyna of Aawitan Kita (many thanks to her kindness) who lended me a tape I needed for my Rizal subject at De La Salle University-Manila.

Pia was very friendly and accommodating while we were patiently lining up for food order. After I finished having my breakfast, I bid her goodbye for I would go inside the RPN 9 studio.

This year, at The Theatre at Solaire during the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s dancers concert, we saw each other anew. She could still dance powerfully to hits like “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”.

Pia is born Maria Susan Casiño, a legendary Filipino dancer and actress, widely celebrated as the original “Miss Body Language”. She rose to prominence in the 1980s for her energetic disco performances and signature “risque” dance moves.

Beyond dancing, she starred in several films (such as Katips in 2021 as old Lally) and appeared in TV programs (such as in my uncle Jim M. Fernandez’s Galema: Anak ni Zuma as Patricia).

Outside of entertainment, she is a real estate broker and an avid traveler. She is a member of the Bungabong clan from Alburquerque, Bohol.