The Maglalatik

The Maglalatik is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly-prized
food. The dance is broken into four parts: two devoted to the battle and two devoted to
reconciling. The men of the dance wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, and they
slap them in rhythm with the music. The Maglalatik is danced in the religious procession
during the fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of
farmers.

The Maglalatik (also known as Manlalatik or Magbabao) is an indigenous dance from the
Philippines. Coconut shell halves are secured onto the dancers' hands and on vests upon which
are hung four or six more coconut shell halves. The dancers perform the dance by hitting one
coconut shell with the other; sometimes the ones on the hands, the ones on the body, or the shells
worn by another performer, all in time to a fast drumbeat.

Like many native Filipino dances, it is intended to impress the viewer with the great skill of the
dancer, and in some "Filipino Martial Arts" (FMA) circles, it has been noted that the Maglalatik
"consists of a trapping and boxing method hidden in a dance."

The name of the dance means "latik-maker", from latik, a coconut product that is used in Filipino
cooking.

All traditional dances tell a story. The indigenous Maglalatik dance of Philippines mimics the battle
between the Christian and the Muslim Moro tribesmen. Maglalatik is also called as Magbabao where ‘bao’
means ‘a coconut shell’. It is an all–male dance with coconut shells used as props. The Maglalatik embodies
the element of a battle, reconciliation and a prize as well. It is usually performed during religious
processions at the town fiesta of Binan. It is also a mark of obeisance to the patron saint of the town, San
Isidro de Labrador. A calm and elegant display of harmless weaponry, Maglalatik is a four part war dance,
which the Moro had won technically. Let us discuss Maglalatik dance in detail.

Maglalatik, also referred to as “Manlalatik or Magbabao” is a South East Asian form of

dance. This “indigenous” dance style is said to have originated from the Philippines, and
is performed mainly by men. Apparently, elements belonging to trapping and boxing are
also included in this style of dancing. Furthermore, the dance has been created to provide
the performer with an ideal platform to display his skills to the public. In addition, this
dance style literally when translated means “latik maker” i.e. latik is a local coconut
product.
The Maglalatik is an indigenous dance from the Philippines in which coconut shell halves that are
secured onto the dancers' hands and on vests upon which are hung four or six more coconut shell halves.
The dancers - all male - perform the dance by hitting one coconut shell with the other - sometimes the
ones on the hands, sometimes, the ones on the body, and sometimes the shells worn by another
performer, all in time to a fast drumbeat.
Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros
and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut meat during the Spanish rule, this dance is also shown
to pay tribute to the town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. It has a four-part performance such as the
palipasan and the baligtaran showing the intense battle, the paseo and the escaramusa- the
reconciliation. Moro dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers
are male; with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips.

a. History/origin of the Maglalatik:

Apparently, this dance was created to represent a fight between the Moros and the Christian
community over latik i.e. a product obtained after the coconut milk has been boiled.
Furthermore, this dance is supposed to be performed during festive occasions such as feasts
and religious processions.

b. Costumes used in the Maglalatik:

The costumes used in this dance style will depend on the community (i.e. Moros or
Christian) the performer is representing, and so the attire worn is as follows:

c. For the performer representing the Moros community:

The dress worn will include a white vest and red trousers.

1. For the performer representing the Christian community:

The dress worn will include a white vest and blue trousers.

2. Music involved in the Maglalatik:

The music produced for this dance form is through the use of coconut shells held by the
performers (males) while performing.

d. Training availability and technique involved in the Maglalatik:

In terms of technique, this dance is basically divided into four parts namely baligtaran,
palipasan, paseo and escaramusa. In the first two parts of this dance i.e. baligtaran and
palipasan basically movements showing a performer engaging in a battle is used.
Furthermore, in the last two components of this dance i.e. paseo and escaramusa
movements showing performers reconciling and making peace is used. In addition, coconut
shells are generally used as a musical instrument by the performers while dancing. As for
training centres and schools, there are none available around the world since this
“indigenous” dance is mainly performed in the Philippines.
Maglalatik
Maglalatik is danced to mimic the early battle against Christians and Moros towin coconut meat
or “latik” during the time of Spanish colonization. This is also performed to pay homage to the
town saint of Biñan, Laguna – San Isidro Labrador. This dance is divided intofour parts:
baligtaran, palipasan, paseo and escaramusa. This is performed by all-male dancerswho wear
blue pants to represent the Christians and red pant for the Moros. All dancers,however, have
coconut shells mounted on their body parts.
Creative and colorful; these are some of the things that you can use to label thePhilippine dances
that define its culture. And for sure you will not be disappointed, since thecountry's dances are
all creative and colorful. An example is the Philippine dance called the'Maglalatik' that is sure to
catch the fancy of those looking for a traditional dance that goes downto the basics, and of course
a dance that is colorful and festive. This dance is also called as'Magbabao' which can mean 'the
one using the 'bao' and the 'bao' is the coconut shell. Throughoutthe dance, the viewers of the
dance can expect that most of the dance moves that will be performed by the dancers will focus
on the use of these 'baos' or the coconut shells and some of the noises or the music that will be
used by the dance will be generated by these coconut shells.
This dance actually tells a story- and it depicts the fight between the Moros andthe Christians
over the 'latik'. The 'latik' is the residue that is left after the coconut milk has beencooked and
boiled. This dance is composed of a four-part performance and the first two performance of the
dance is called as the 'Palipasan' and the 'Baligtaran'.
In these first two performances, the dance will show the opposing squads in anintense battle. The
last two parts of the dance are the 'Paseo' and the 'Sayaw Escaramusa'. Thesetwo dances basically
show the reconciliation between the two groups and the dance steps of thedancers will show and
suggest that the opposing groups are now in good terms. The two groupsin this dance is the
group of the Moros and the other group is the group of the Christians. Alldancers that participate
in this classic dance are male and they all harness and use the coconutshells. These shells are
attached on many points of the body of the dancers- in the chests, the backs, the thighs and the
hips. The dancers will also hold their triangular formed coconut shellsin their hands and they
used these shells to tap the coconut shells that are fitted on their bodiesand they use these to
generate the music that will accompany them when they are dancing. TheMoros in this dance
will wear the red trousers and the Christian group will wear the bluetrousers. This dance will
involve some simple movements and simple repetitions.
The following will be a listing of the steps that are generally performed in the dance.
. First step will require dancers to make 6 to 8 counts of jogging to settle to their place

. Then four steps forward while pounding the chests..

Four basic clap cycles while the dancers are in place.
Another four basic clap cycles in order for the dancers to get to two rows.
Another 8 quick clap cycles to the ripple effect.
Another 8 quick clap cycles that will allow the dancer to circle around the partner, and next upis
the Circle Up..
The dancers will make 8 counts+1 -4 count for the first clap.
Dancers will clap after the one 8 count and this should be done 8 times, then the finishing clap.
Dancers will make 8 high-low clap cycles in order to move into position..
Another 8 cycles of 6 hit clapping.
The dancer will then make 16 counts for the tricks with another round of clapping in
the background.
Dancer will make 4 basic to get to the two sides.
Dancer will make 8 quick clap cycles for the battle.
Dancer will make 4 quick clap cycles in order to get to the end.
And right after the last clap, the dancers then make their pose.
According to historians, this Philippine dance originated in Laguna and usually performed during
the town fiesta of Biñan. The dance is usually performed in a religious procession as the
procession moves down the street. This dance called 'Maglalatik'is performedas an offering to
their patron saint- San Isidro de Labrador.