TINIKLING

 Introduced: Spanish Colonial Era

 Originated: Leyte
 Pole length: 6ft. (sometimes longer)
 Attire: Patadyong or baro’t saya for women, Barong Tagalog or camisa de chino for
men

One of the most popular traditional dances in the Philippines is the tinikling. This
dance is often performed to music played on bamboo poles, and involves two people
tapping the poles together while dancers move in and out of the space between them.

The tinikling is said to represent the movements of a bird called the tikling, which
is known for its ability to deftly avoid traps set by farmers.

This Filipino folk dance originated during the Spanish colonial era. The tinikling
involves two people hitting bamboo poles together in rhythm with the rondalla
ensemble. As they move, they also weave in and out of each other, creating an intricate
pattern.
 The dance is performed by two people, who hop, jump, and turn their way
through a bamboo framework. The bamboo poles are rapidly moving, and the dancers
have to be careful to avoid getting their ankles caught.

Performers dance with their hands clasped behind their backs. As the dance
progresses, the tempo of the bamboo poles becomes faster and forces the dancers
closer together. The dancers hold hands at the last part of the dance when it is its
fastest. They end by letting go of each other’s hands and stepping out of the bamboo
poles quickly.

Modern adaptations have been made to the dance and attire of those performing
the tinikling.
 Pandanggo sa Ilaw
 Introduced: Spanish Colonial Era
 Originated: Lubang Island, Mindoro
 Accessories: Three oil lamps or three candles in glass containers, castanets (or
dancers simply use their hands for clapping), and a handkerchief
 Attire: Patadyong or baro’t saya for women, Barong Tagalog or camisa de chino for
men

Pandanggo sa ilaw is one of Philippine traditional dances that involves candles

balanced on the heads and hands of each dancer. Some variations of the dance are
accompanied by castanets than simply the clapping of the hands. This dance is said to
originate from the Spanish fandango, which was brought to the Philippines during the
Spanish colonial period.

There are many variations of the pandanggo, but the most one is pandanggo sa
ilaw. The dance starts with women balancing candles on their hands, while the man will
balance one in each hand. As the dancers move, they will occasionally exchange
candles with each other, creating an intricate web of lights.

The dance ends with all three dancers holding a candle in each hand and making
a series of movements that symbolize the flickering of flames.
 Pandanggo sa ilaw is often performed at Filipino festivals and celebrations, and it
is considered to be one of the most popular Philippine traditional dances. The
combination of candlelight, music, and movement makes for a truly mesmerizing
experience.

The light from the lamps creates a beautiful effect, and the movement of the
dancers is said to resemble the flickering of fireflies on a summer night.
 Maglalaltik
 Introduced: Spanish Colonial Era
 Originated: Binan, Laguna
 Accessories: 4-6 coconut shells
 Attire: Colored trousers and shirt to depict the difference between Moros and
Christians

Maglalatik is a traditional Philippine dance that involves dancers hitting coconut

shell halves against each other in time to the music. The Maglalatik is traditionally
performed by two groups of dancers, who represent two religious groups engaged in
battle.

The battle is over latik, a coconut product that was once used as currency. The
Maglalatik dance is broken into a couple of parts: the war and the reconciliation. The
dance originated as a way for enemies to resolve their differences without resorting to
violence.

The dance is usually performed by men, but modern variations include women in
mock warfare. Whatever the origins, the Maglalatik is now a beloved part of the
Philippine culture; and its intricate rhythms are sure to delight any listener.
 Sayaw Sa Bangko
 Originated: Pangasinan
 Accessories: A couple of 6ft benches
 Attire: Patadyong or baro’t saya for women, camisa de chino for men

Sayaw sa Bangko is a traditional Filipino dance that originated in the province of

Pangasinan. The dance is typically performed by a group of three to five pairs, with
supporting characters from the back, mimicking a barrio festival. The other characters
circle around the dancers while clapping and singing.

At the start of the dance, there are usually 3 to 5 pairs, before downing it to a pair
of dancers while stacking the benches higher. This calls for skill, coordination, and
balance from dancers when jumping, turning, and swaying to the rhythm.

The dance gets its name from the Bangko, or bench, that is used as a prop.
Sayaw sa Bangko is often performed at Filipino festivals and celebrations and is a
popular choice for weddings and other special occasions. The dance is usually
performed to upbeat Filipino folk music in a rondalla ensemble.
 Itik-itik
 Originated: Surigao Province
 Attire: Patadyong or baro’t saya for women, camisa de chino for men

Itik-Itik is a traditional Philippine dance that involves imitating the movements of

ducks. The dance is often performed by couples, with the man playing the role of the
duck and the woman playing the role of the female duck.

The goal of the dance is to attract a mate, and the dancers often flap their arms
and elbows to mimic the movements of ducks.

Itik-itik was formed when a young dancer named Kanang (Cayetana in some
versions) was dancing to Sibay (a dance that imitates a bird’s movement) during a
baptismal party. She began to improvise short steps similar to that of a duck’.
 Subli
 Introduced: Spanish Colonial Era (others argued it was done pre-Hispanic)
 Originated: Batangas
 Accessories: Straw hats for women and castanets for men
 Attire: Patadyong or baro’t saya for women, camisa de chino for men

Subli is one of the Philippine traditional dances that originated in Batangas. The
word Subli is derived from the word subsob which meant “bent” depicting how the men
adopted the bent posture when dancing.

The women wear straw hats with ribbons, and the men carry castanets. The
music for this dance is usually fast-paced and lively, and it often features instruments
such as drums.

The dance is characterized by quick and agile movements set to the fast rhythm
of kulintang music. Although it is traditionally a folk dance from the Philippines, subli has
gained popularity in recent years as a performance art form.