History of the Philippine Folk Dance

The Philippine archipelago is composed of 7,107 islands. Because of this, a Filipino

subculture has evolved in each specific region of the country. Yet, while Filipino
folk dances are primarily influenced by religion and subculture in specific areas of
the Philippines, there are similarities in how these dances originated and
developed throughout history.

Origins

Most of the folk dances from the mountainous region in the northern part of the
Philippines came from tribes' rituals, prayers and celebrations. The folk dances in
the Tagalog region located between north and central Philippines (including the
country's capital Manila) had significant Spanish and European influences. Dances
in the central part of the country called the Visayan region were mostly inspired by
animal movements. In the Mindanao region, located in southern Philippines, folk
dances were mainly influenced by Muslim culture, as this was the only Philippine
region never under Spanish rule.

Tribal and Ritual Dances

The cultural minorities living in mountain regions throughout the Philippines

considered dancing a basic part of their lives. Their tribal and ritual dances
predated the emergence of Christianity and Islam in the country. These Filipinos
preserved their ancient dances, which were essentially performed for the gods,
goddesses and nature. These dances were closely intertwined with ceremonies,
rituals and sacrifices.

In the Ifugao region in northern Philippines, the native Igorots dance to pray for
good harvest, ask for blessings before going to war, appease ancestors, ward off
bad luck, heal the sick, request family blessings, celebrate feasts and offer
sacrifices. There are also dances used to congregate, socialize, express feelings
and mark milestones in the cycle of life.

Spanish Influence

The more than 300-year Spanish occupation in the Philippines greatly influenced
Philippine folk dancing. As the Spanish brought Christianity to the country, the
religion reflected most of the stories and presentations of Filipino folk dances.
Apart from using Spanish-style clothes slightly modified with Filipino elements,
these dances also infused the Filipinos' everyday struggles during the Spanish rule.
Filipino dancers also used local resources as props like the bamboo castanets and
abanico (Asian fans).

Some dances also utilized Spanish steps and footwork with Filipino modifications.
For instance, Mindoro's pandanggo sa Ilaw, derived from the Spanish dance
fandango, adapted the use of lively steps and clapping while balancing one oil
lamp on the head and one on each hand throughout the dance.
National Dance

Tinikling is the Philippines' national dance. Its name originates from the word
tikling, a native bird that roams around fields, crushes tree branches and avoids
traps set by farmers.

The dance comes from the province of Leyte in the Visayan region. It imitates the
bird's unique movements, speed and grace by skillfully maneuvering between fast-
moving bamboo poles. Tinikling involves two people beating, tapping and sliding
the bamboo poles on the ground and against each other while one or more
dancers step over and in between the poles without getting their feet caught
between them. These poles are banged against the ground and each other. The
sound and rhythm they make play significant parts on the tinikling's Iberian-
influenced staccato music.

Fight and Celebration Dances

Most Filipino folk dances, regardless of which region they come from, tell stories
about fights and struggles or celebrations and feasts. For instance, the maglalatik
dance of Binan, Laguna is a mock-war dance demonstrating a fight between the
Moros (Muslim Filipinos from Mindanao) and the Christians. The sakuting dance of
abra uses the arnis, a native weapon made out of two sticks that serve as
extensions of the hands, to demonstrate a fight between the Christian Filipinos and
the non-Christian natives of the Cordillera region. The sinulog in San Joaquin, Iloilo
is a ceremonial dance performed for the feast of San Martin (Saint Martin). The
bulaklakan of the Tagalogs, meanwhile, is an annual procession followed by a
social gathering where girls dance while holding a U-shaped garland held upside
down. Each dancer uses one of these arch-like props filled with leaves and flowers.