***sarung Bangui, paru-parong bukid

Maglalatik
During the Spanish regime, the present barrios of Loma and Zapote of Bian, Laguna, were
separated. With coconut shells as implements the people of these two barrios danced the
Maglalatik, or Magbabao, a war dance depicting a fight between the Moros and the
Christians over the latik (residue left after the coconut milk has been boiled).
The first two parts of the dance, the Palipasan and the Baligtaran show the heated
encounter between the two groups. The last two parts, the Paseo and the Sayaw
Escaramusa show the reconciliation between the two groups. According to the legend the
Moros came out victorious, thus getting the coveted latik. The Christians, not contented with
the result of the war, sent an envoy to the Moros to offer peace and to baptize them.
The best Maglalatik dancers are found in Zapote. In the daytime during the town fiesta of
Bian, the Maglalatik dancers go from house to house performing this dance for money or a
gift. In the evening they dance Maglalatik in the religious procession as it moves along the
streets. They perform the dance as an offering to the patron saint of the farmers, San Isidro
de Labrador.
TINIKLING
This 'Visayan' dance was found in Leyte where this dance originated. Dancers imitate the
tikling birds legendary grace and speed as they skillfully play, chase each other, run over
tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Hence it is named after the bird,
tikling. this version of the dance is done between a pair of bamboo poles.
SINGKIL
Sinkil dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess.
Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of the
"Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao. This epic, written sometime in the 14th
century, tells the fateful story of Princess Gandingan, who was caught in the middle of a
forest during an earthquake caused by the diwatas, or fairies or nymph of the forest.
The rhythmic clapping of criss-crossed bamboo poles represent the trees that were falling,
which she gracefully avoids. Her slave loyally accompanies her throughout her ordeal.
Finally, she is saved by the prince. Dancers wearing solemn faces and maintaining a
dignified pose being dancing at a slow pace which soon progresses to a faster tempo
skillfully manipulate apir, or fans which represent the winds that prove to be auspicious. The
dancers weave expertly through criss-crossed bamboos.

Idaw
This dance sometimes has many names and different versions. Most common is this dance
depicts the hunting ritual performed before a tribal war. The tribes men would go out and

look up and watch for the scared Idaw bird. Which is said to lead the tribe to victory. Also
look at the clothing, Philippines being a very hot climate, plus the use of as little material as
possible, the traditional clothing was not made to cover much of the body.

Itik itik
At one baptismal party in the Surigao del Norte province, a young lady named Kanang (the
nickname for Cayetana), considered the best dancer and singer of her time, was asked to
dance the Sibay. She became so enthusiastic and spirited during the performance that she
began to improvise movements and steps similar to the movements of itik, the duck, as it
walks with short, choppy steps and splashes water on its back while calling to its mate. The
people liked the dance so much that they all imitated her. There are six separate foot
sequences in the series of Itik-Itik steps.
*Sibay - a popular dance in Samar called Sabay as a dance that imitates the movements of
flying birds.
---- The popular version of the dance was introduced by a lady named Kanang. This is
according to a particular tale. The tale narrates that Kanang was fascinated by the ducks she
saw from a pond nearby. Shen then tried to imitate the movements of the birds. This
happened when she was attending and dancing a baptismal party. The other attendees got
interested in her imitation of the birds so they also dance following her steps. From then on,
the steps or the dance was passed on to the next generations.
MALONG
The malong is traditionally used as a garment by numerous tribes in the Southern
Philippines and the Sulu Archipelago. Its origin is from the ethnical group of Maranao,
Maguindanao and Tboli located in Mindanao.
Handwoven malongs are made by the weavers on a backstrap loom. Very rare malong
designs and styles can indicate the village in which the malong was made. Handwoven
malongs, which are costly- made of cotton and silk,
are likely to be used only at social functions, to display the social and economic status of the
wearer. But a malong in royal colours is worn only by Maranao men and women of royal
status. The malong can also function as a skirt for both men and women, a dress, a blanket,
a bedsheet, a hammock, a prayer mat, and other purposes.
FABRICS
The traditional ornamentation for this fabric is a style of hand embroidery called calado. An embroidered pia garment
is most commonly called pia calado. The colorings of these hand-woven fabrics are from vegetable dyes originating
from leaves and bark of different plants.

The filmy fiber from the Red Spanish variety of pineapple grown in the provinces of Aklan, Palawan and Camarines
Norte of Bicol Region became an important fabric material. Novelty items made of pia cloth were considered
desirable gifts for royalty. In 1862, a handkerchief made from fine pia cloth was presented as a wedding gift to
Queen Alexandra on her marriage to Edward VII. Its replica can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum in
London.
Pia fiber is often blended with other ingenious materials like cotton, abaca or silk to produce a wonderful gently
fabric. When mix-woven with silk, it is called pia-silk or pia-seda. When woven with jusi, it is pia-jusi, with sheer
and strength and less expensive that pia.
Jusi cloth is soft sheer fabric made from the fibers of pineapple leaves and mechanically woven stronger that Pia
cloth. It was also made from abaca or banana silk and was replaced by imported silk organza.
Pia-jusi fabric is the latest innovation on barong fabric that came out of the market and gaining quality. The combine
blending of the sheerness of pineapple fibers and the strength of Jusi fiber offers a durable fabric for equal formal
need for particular affairs.
Linen fabric is another natural fiber that is durable and comfortable. Linen can be hand washed and dry clean only. It
presses nicely to a firm and tender fabric. Linen is often used for tablecloths, sheets, and curtains. Linen also has a
nice easy shape and feel that make it a popular choice for clothing.
Abaca fiber produced from a plant indigenous to the Philippines which grows in the country for centuries is cautiously
woven to make sinamay fabric. The fabric gained worldwide popularity as Manila hemp-preferred rope by sailors
including the US Navy. Now, it is widely used to manufacture novelty goods, home furnishing and raw specialty
papers.
In October 2009, many of the countrys talented fashion designers showcase their finest collections in the gala show
at the SMX Convention Center in celebrating the International Year of Natural Fibers with the cooperation of the Fiber
Industry Development Authority of the Department of Agriculture. The show serves as a tribute to the people in
agriculture who painstakingly produce high quality fibers that are solely to and have become pride of the Philippines.
The show put forward the art of hand weaving; an important craft and skill handed down from generation to
generation while the indigenous fabrics admired for absolute beauty, uniqueness and worldwide appeal; but most
importantly, generate sustained demand globally.
Just recently, the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines launched the Weaving the Future contest using the
countrys indigenous fabrics in a modern way, to modernize the impression of a Filipino look. The FDCP president, JC
Buendia added that This is intended to dispel the notion that local fabrics are only used for costumes.
Since pia fabric is hand-loomed by a reducing species of weavers, the fabric becomes precious and scarce that
makes it expensive.

****beadworks, jars (manunggul jar)

*Vertical or personal relationship existed in the family or clan.