LESSON 2 : FESTIVAL DANCE

Overview of the Lesson

Fitness plays a very crucial role in our existence as human beings. It is a
sustaining base of our physicality that allows us to overcome challenge of our daily
living. It is with fitness that our eagerness to do
things that we are capable of doing physically arise,
which eventually leads us in making our own lives
better and more productive. We tend to challenge
ourselves to go beyond what we are already capable
of doing and strive further to influence others with
what we think is better. Coupled with our desire to
better ourselves is our urge to share it with our
fellowmen.
This module introduces you to the value of festival dancing in the
enhancement of your fitness. You will be provided with activities in this festival
dancing which will in turn lead to a greater awareness of the right foods to eat,
proper ways to manage your weight and of course opportunities to maximize the
enhancement of your fitness through festival dancing. It is expected thereafter that
such practices will be used by you to influence the lifestyle and fitness practices of
your immediate community. Figure 9

Here’s how:
1. Read and reflect on the following readings.
2. In your activity notebook, answer the given questions at the end of the
readings.

Readings: Why Festival?

Festival dances are cultural dances performed to the strong beats of
percussion instruments by a community of
people sharing the same culture usually done in
honor of a Patrol Saint or in thanksgiving of a
bountiful harvest. Festival dances may be
religious or secular in nature. But the best thing
about festivals is that they add to the merry-
making and festivities where they are
celebrated, the reason why they called festival
dances after all. Festival dances draw the
people’s culture by portraying the people’s ways of life through movements,
costumes and implements inherent to their place of origin.
Figure 10
Some of the famous festivals in the country include Sinulog of Cebu, Dinagyang of
Iloilo, Ati-atihan of Kalibo, Aklan, Buyogan and Linagayan of Leyte, Banfus of
Dagupan, T’nalak of South Cotabato, Masskara of Bacolod City, Bambanti of
Isabela, and Kadayawam of Davao. Many others, especially from Luzon, are now
paving their way to join the country’s festival of festivals, the Aliwan Fiesta which is
done in the month of April. Filipinos do festivals primarily to celebrate. There are a
multitude of reasons for this reason. We celebrate our unity amidst the diversity of
cultures and we celebrate our industry bringing about a bountiful harvest. Festivals
have been a consistent crowd-producing activity leading to upliftment of a
community’s economy due to its tourism and entertainment value. Basically,
festivals are a form of entertainment that attracts foreign and domestic tourists to
visit a place eventually leading to the elevation of the Filipino’s quality of life.
Whatever festival we celebrate, be it done to honor a religious icon or
celebrate our industry. Festival dances are a reflection of the unity of the Filipino
community that despite the economic, social, environmental, cultural and political
challenges we face every day, there can be no other race more resilient than ours.

Two Types of Festival Dances

As mentioned earlier, festivals may either be religious, in honor of a certain
religious icon or secular or non-religious, in thanksgiving or celebration of people’s
industry and bountiful harvest. The following are some of the said festivals:
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
Name of Festival Place of Origin Religious Figure Month Celebrated
Honoured
Sinulog Festival Cebu City Sto.Niño January
Dinagyang Festival Iloilo City Sto.Niño January
Ati-Atihan Festival Kalibu, Aklan Sto.Niño January
Peñafrancia Bicol Virgin Mary September
Festival
Higantes Festival Angono, Rizal Saint Clement November
Longganisa Festival Vigan City, Ilocos Saint Paul January
Sur
Kinabayo Festival Dapitan City James the Grewat July
Pintados Festival Passi City, Iloilo Sto.Niño March
Pattaradday Santiago City Señor San tiago May
Festival
Sangyaw Festival Tacloban City Sto.Niño July

SECULAR FESTIVALS
Name of Festival Place of Origin Industry Month Celebrated
Bangus Festival Dagupan, Milkfish Industry April to May
Pangasinan
Bambanti Festival Isabela Scarecrow January
(farming)
Mammangui City of Iligan Corn Industry May
Festival
Mango Festival Iba, Zambales Mango Industry April
Panagbenga Baguio City Flower Industry February
Festival
Ibon Ebon Festival Pampanga Migratory Birds February
Egg Industry
Masskara Festival Bacolod City Mask (Sugar October
Industry)
T’nalak Festival South Cotabato Tinalak Cloth July
Weaving
Ammungun Festival Nueva Vizcaya Gathering of Tribal May
Industries
Binatbatan Festival Vigan, Ilocos Sur Weaving Industry May
IMPORTANCE OF FESTIVAL DANCE

 Filipinos do festivals primarily to celebrate unity amidst diversity of

cultures. The value of industry and hard work that brings about
bountiful field is also one of the reasons of the celebration.
 Festivals have been a consistent crowd-drawing activity which in a way
uplifts the economy of one’s place due to its tourism and
entertainment value.
 Whatever festival we celebrate, be it in honor of a religious icon,
culture, tradition, beliefs or industry, festival dances articulate the unity
of the Filipinos that amidst economic, social, environment, cultural and
political challenges remain resilient.