Philippine Folk Dances

Philippine Folk Dances
A dance means to
move rhythmically to
music, typically
following a set
sequence of steps,
there’s certainly more
to it than its literal
meaning.
Dance is a source of
entertainment and a good
healthy lifestyle. But as for the
Philippine folk dances, we see a
bigger picture and a deeper
meaning.
◦A traditional dance in the Philippines connects
us to a place’s culture.
◦It is about history, traditions and majestic beauty of

the place it is associated with.
◦The cultural dances in the Philippines evolved

from different regions which are distinct from one
another as they are affected by religion and culture.
The main difference between culture and
tradition is that traditions describe a
group’s beliefs and behaviors that are
passed down from one generation to
another. Culture describes the shared
characteristics of the entire group, which
has been amassed throughout its history.
For example:
Tradition Culture
Mano or pagmamano Events
- is an "honoring- -Culture acts as the
gesture" used in underlying thread that
Filipino culture connects you to
performed as a sign of everyone else, with
respect to elders and traditions acting as the
as a way of requesting events and customs to
a blessing from the honor these.
elder.
12 Most
Popular Philippine
Folk Dances
1. Tinikling –
A Philippine
folk dance that
originated in
Leyte
Tinikling is one of the most famous dances in
the Philippines.
The movements of this Filipino folk dance
imitate the movements of the tikling bird as it
walks around through tall grass and between tree
branches.
People use bamboo poles to perform this
Filipino traditional dance. Tinikling is composed of
three basic steps which include singles, doubles,
and hops.
2. Itik-Itik
– A cultural
dance in the
Philippines that
originated in
Surigao del Sur
The itik-itk is named after a species of duck
(itik), whose movements the dance imitates.
This example of Philippine folk dance from

Surigao del Sur mimics how the itik walks and
splashes water to attract a mate.
3.Maglalatik
– An example of
Philippine folk
dance that
originated in
Biñan, Laguna`
Maglalatik, a folk dance in Luzon, is not just any other
traditional dance in the Philippines that mimics the movements
of animals.
This dance in the Philippines has a meaning. It is a mock
war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly-
prized food.
The Filipino folk dance is broken into four parts: two
devoted to the battle and two devoted to reconciling. The
dancing men wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, and
they hit them in rhythm with the music. Maglalatik is danced in
the religious procession during the fiesta of Biñan, Laguna as an
offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
4. Binasuan –
is a tribal dance in
the Philippines
that originated in
Pangasinan
Binasuan, another folk dance in Luzon,
originated in Bayambang, Pangasinan.
The word “binasuan” means “with the use of
drinking glasses.”
It is one of the most challenging Filipino dances
as the dancers need to balance glasses on their
heads and in their hands as they move. What makes
it more difficult is that the glasses are filled with rice
wine, which makes any misstep a messy mistake.
5. Singkil –
Singkil is a
Mindanao folk
dance that
originated in
Lake Lanao
Singkil is a Mindanao folk dance that originated from the
Maranao people and is based on the story in the Darangen, the pre-
Islamic Maranao interpretation of the ancient Hindu Indian epic, the
Ramayana.
This tribal dance in the Philippines means “to entangle the feet
with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path”. The
lead dancer, in the role of Putri Gandingan (the Darangen name for
Sita), graciously manipulates either fans, scarves, or her hands while
she steps in and out of closing bamboo poles. The poles are
arranged in either a parallel, rectangular, or criss-cross fashion. The
singkil dance is one of the most popular Philippine folk dances.
6.Kappa Malong-Malong –
A tribal dance in the
Philippines that originated
from the Maranao tribe in
Mindanao
The Kappa Malong-Malong is a cultural dance
in the Philippines influenced by Muslims.
The malong is a tubular garment, and the
folk dance essentially shows the many ways it
can be worn. This traditional dance in the
Philippines is not only for women though, but
there is also a men’s version of the dance
since they wear malongs in different ways.
7.Cariñosa –
A local dance in the
Philippines that
originated in Panay
Island
Carinosa dance is a Filipino cultural
dance made for flirting, hence it’s a
courtship dance in the Philippines.
The dancers make a number of
flirtatious movements as they peek out
at one another behind fans or
handkerchiefs.
8. Sayaw sa Bangko –
A traditional folk
dance in the
Philippines that
originated in
Pangasinan
It is performed on top of a narrow
bench. To ace this ethnic dance in the
Philippines, dancers need good balance
as they go through a series of
movements that include some
impressive acrobatics.
So if you want a challenging folk dance,
try Sayaw sa Bangko.
9. Pandanggo sa Ilaw –
An ethnic dance in the
Philippines that
originated in Lubang
Island, Mindoro
Just like Binasuan, Pandanggo sa Ilaw is a game of
balancing glasses, only with candles inside. Dancers
have to balance three oil lamps: one on the head, and
one in each hand. It’s a lively Philippine folk dance that
originated on Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro. The
music is in 3/4 time and is usually accompanied by
castanets. So if you’re always game for challenging
Filipino dances, try Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
The Pandanggo sa Ilaw is similar to a Spanish Fandango,
but the Pandanggo folk dance is performed while
balancing three oil lamps.
10. Pandanggo
Oasiwas – A folk
dance in the
Philippines that
originated in
Lingayen, Pangasinan
The Pandanggo Oasiwas is a type of dance
in the Philippines similar to the Pandanggo
sa Ilaw, and is typically performed by
fishermen to celebrate a bountiful catch.
In Pandanggo Oasiwas folk dance, the
lamps are placed in cloths or nets and
swung around as the dancers circle and
sway.
11. Kuratsa –
A type of folk
dance in the
Philippines
that originated
in Samar Island
The Kuratsa is considered a courtship dance in
the Philippines. This Filipino dance has three
parts. First is where the couple performs a
waltz.
Second, the music sets a faster pace as the man
pursues the woman around the dance floor in a
chase.
Lastly, the music becomes even faster as the
man wins over the woman with his mating
dance.
12. Pantomina –
A type of dance in
the Philippines
that originated in
Bicol
Pantomina is another
courtship dance in the
Philippines.
It is a regular feature of
festivities in Bicol, and is said to
mimic the movement of doves in
courtship.

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Philippine Folk Dances

◦It is about history, traditions and majestic beauty of

◦The cultural dances in the Philippines evolved

This example of Philippine folk dance from

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