| Doon Po Sa Nayon |
Laughter and gaeity commonly used to describe
the Filipino people takes root in the Philippine country-side. Life in the Barrio is simple, but Filipinos always manage to find time to celebrate
life's gifts.
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The annual fiestas to celebrate the patron
saints of the barrios symbolize the mixture of pagan and Catholic belief. Fiestas not only
honor the patron saint, but give homage to the barrio's namesake for a good harvest,
health, and perserverance. These fiestas are marked with celebrations of holy mass, music,
dance and song.
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Itik-itik
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Itik-Itik
At one baptismal party in the Surigao del Norte
province, a young lady named Kanang (the nickname for Cayetana), considered the best
dancer and singer of her time, was asked to dance the Sibay. She became so enthusiastic
and spirited during the performance that she began to improvise movements and steps
similar to the movements of itik, the duck, as it walks with short, choppy steps and
splashes water on its back while calling to its mate. The people liked the dance so much
that they all imitated her. There are six separate foot sequences in the series of
Itik-Itik steps.
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Binasuan
Origin: Bayambang, Pangasinan
This colorful and lively dance from Bayambang in the
Pangasinan province shows off the balancing skills of the dancers. The glasses that the
dancers gracefully, yet carefully, maneuver are half-filled with rice wine gracefully who
whirl and roll on the floor.
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Binasuan
 
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Binasuan, meaning "with the use of a drinking
glass" in Pangasinan, is often performed as entertainment at weddings, birthdays, and
fiestas. At social gatherings, the dance becomes a contest among the dancers as well as
non-dancers as to who can do the most daring and skillful balancing movements.
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Maglalatik
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Maglalatik
During the Spanish regime, the present barrios
of Loma and Zapote of Biņan, Laguna, were separated. With coconut shells as implements
the people of these two barrios danced the Maglalatik, or Magbabao, a war dance depicting
a fight between the Moros and the Christians over the latik (residue left after the
coconut milk has been boiled).
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The first two parts of
the dance, the Palipasan and the Baligtaran show the heated encounter between the two
groups. The last two parts, the Paseo and the Sayaw Escaramusa show the reconciliation
between the two groups. According to the legend the Moros came out victorious, thus
getting the coveted latik. The Christians, not contented with the result of the war, sent
an envoy to the Moros to offer peace and to baptize them.
The best Maglalatik dancers are found in Zapote. In the daytime during the town fiesta of
Biņan, the Maglalatik dancers go from house to house performing this dance for money or a
gift. In the evening they dance Maglalatik in the religious procession as it moves along
the streets. They perform the dance as an offering to the patron saint of the farmers, San
Isidro de Labrador.
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Pandanggo sa ilaw
Origin: Lubang Island, Mindoro (Visayas)
This popular dance of grace and balance comes from
Lubang Island, Mindoro in the Visayas region. The term pandanggo comes from the Spanish
word fandango, which is a dance characterized by lively steps and clapping that varies in
rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular pandanggo involves the presence of three tinggoy, or
oil lamps, balanced on the head and the back of each hand.
After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would
celebrate by drinking wine and by dancing, swinging and circling a lighted lamp. Hence,
the name "Oasiwas" which in the Pangasinan dialect means "swinging."
This unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on the head while
circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth or fishnet. The waltz-style
music is similar to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
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Pandanggo sa ilaw
(click on the image)
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Sakuting
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Sakuting
Origin: Abra
A dance of the Ilokano Christians and non-Christians
from the province of Abra, Sakuting was originally performed by boys only. It portrays a
mock fight using sticks to train for combat. The stacatto-inflected music suggests a
strong Chinese influence. The dance is customarily performed during Christmas at the town
plaza, or from the house-to-house. The spectators give the dancers aguinaldos, or gifts of
money or refreshments especially prepared for Christmas.
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Pasigin
Origin: Pasig
A dance interpreting toil in the life of the
fishermen in the river called Pasig. Manifesting the native means of catching the fish.
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Pagsin
  
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Sublian
  
(click on the image) |
Sublian
Origin: Batangas
This version is from Talumpok, a ritual dance. A
favorite dance of the people in nearly all the barrios of the municipality of Bauan,
Batangas, in the month of May and during the town and barrio fiestas. It is a ceremonial
worship dance performed in homage to the Holy Cross referred to in the vernacular as Mahal
Na Poong Santa Cruz. It originated some three hundred years ago in the barrio of Dingin,
Alitagtag, Batangas.
The name Subli is derived from two Tagalog words
“subsub” (stooped or in a crouching position) and “bali” (broken).
Thus the men dancers are in trunk-forward-bend position thoughout the dance. They seem to
be lame and crooked.
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Tinikling
This 'Visayan' dance was found in Leyte where
this dance originated. Dancers imitate the tikling bird’s legendary grace and speed
as they skillfully play, chase each other, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps
set by rice farmers. Hence it is named after the bird, tikling. this version of the dance
is done between a pair of bamboo poles.
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Tinikling
 
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The older people claim that the ‘Tinikling Ha
Bayo’ from which the tinikling dance evolved is more difficult to perform. It was
originally danced between ‘bayuhan’, two wooden pestles used to pound the husks
off the rice grain.
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Source: http://www.likha.org
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