BINISLAKAN

BISLAK
Means “the use of sticks”
It is a folk dance of the people in Lingayen, Pangasinan
Place of origin: China
Classification: Social Dance
It was used to commemorate the Chinese pirate-Limahong-who built a kingdom in Lingayen in
the 1200’s
Bislak is a stick used to perform Binislakan
It is used to represent the chopsticks

COSTUME

FEMALE
Siesgo and Kimono with loose and long sleeves
MALE

Camisa de Chino and red pants

FORMATION
Partners are 6 ft apart
SUA KU SUA

Meaning: My pomelo tree

Dance Culture: Lowland Muslim (Coastal)
Place of Origin: Jolo, Sulu
Ethnolinguistic Group: Tausog
Classification: Mimetic, Courtship
Performers: Male, Female
Accesories gold or imitation gold earrings, necklace, bracelets, and brooches
Suggested footwear: Dancers are barefoot.
Shoulder band (SIYAG): A seperate wrap-around malong of rich material strung over the right
shoulder crossing the chest and hanging on the left side.

COSTUME

MALE
Pants (SAWAL OR KANTIU): Similar to the pants of females but in darker colors and bolder
design
Accesories: money-belt, Sarok hat, Pis siyabit (rectangular hand-woven scarf tied on the head or
hung loosely over one shoulder), Kris (wavy knife) or barong (leaf knife)
Suggested footwear: Dancers are barefoot.

FEMALE
MOVEMENTS / STEPS PARTICULAR TO DANCE
Fans transform into tiny sails, face mirrors, butterflies, shields, and leaves. Sua-Ku-Sua's
traditional steps are with Chineses influence.
Pants (SAWAL OR KANTIU): loose Chineses pants with a 10-inch soft white band (coco curdo)
attached to a wide waist. To tuck the pants in, the white band is overlapped in front, one side on
top of the other and rolled out to form a tight belt.
MATERIAL: Chinese silk or any silk material preferably in navy blue, sunshine yellow, grass green,
red or orange colors
The Sua-Ku-Sua or "My Pomelo Tree" is a dance that likens the Sua's gentle leaves, attractive
fruits, its fragrance and slender body to that of a lady.
Performed by couples, the Sua-Ku-Sua dancers make use of two white fans that are swayed, as
if to signify the swaying of the leaves of the Sua tree while singing along with the music in their
rice powder-covered faces and their eyebrow and sideburns are enhanced with soot for
aesthetic purposes.
Top (BARAWASI): traditional loose blouse, long sleeves with deep, plunging key-hole neckline;
extra panels attached to the right and left chest decorated with many tiny brass buttons.
PANGALAY
Pangalay is a popular festival dance in Sulu. It is performed in wedding celebrations and at big
social affairs. Wedding celebrations among the rich families in Sulu are lavishly observed. They
may last for several days or even weeks depending on the financial status and agreement of
both families.
Pangalay is a traditional Tausug dance characterized by elaborate body postures and gestures
and the graceful arm and hand movement of the dancer, amplified by the use of janggay or
metal claws. The dance is performed to the music of the kulintangan, gandang, agong and
gabang. Commonly referred to as the fingernail dance, Pangalay is usually performed during
weddings and other festive celebrations.

The Girls are using metal claws or also known as Janggay.

Fan
2 Bamboos
PROPS AND COSTUME
Pangalay Courtship Dance

This dance is performed by a solo female dancer.

The female dancer is imitating the movement of a bird in a flight
The Pangalay ha Patung is characterized by two men carrying two bamboo poles on their
shoulders with a solo female dancer keeping her balance on top of the two bamboo poles. This
version of Pangalay paints a picture of a woman dancing on a sail boat.
Origin
PANGALAY ha PATUNG
This dance is the first version wherein the dancers are imitate the graceful courtship dance of
birds.
They dance it during wedding ceremony and the guests would tuck money within the fingers of
the female dancers.
SAKUTING

The History
Province of Abra, home to Ilocano and Tingguian tribes.
Spanish garrison to protect Christian Ilocanos and city of Bangued.
Missionaries taught dance as ritual, portraying struggle between tribes.
Chirstian Ilocanos converted by the Spanish.
The non-Christian Tingguian mountain tribes.
Spanish opressors and missionaries.
Usually performed by boys only.

Who?
The Performance: Sakuting
Customarilly performed asart of Christmas celebrations.
Time to give dancers aguinaldos (gifts of money, drinks, fruits, and refreshment)
Portrays influences of China and Spain.
Exercise of Arnis art of fighting
Two teams of performers clash, imitating martial arts.
Form of comedia (or moro-moro); features a battalla (choreographed skirmish, mock fight)

Why?
The sticks are wooden or bambo
- 2 1/2 feet long
- Tapered at the end, like candle
- Represented weapons of simple people
Arnis, traditional art of stick fighting
Banned by Spanish, making it secret.
Managed to sneak it into folk dances.
Employs Filipino Arnis, the art of stick fighting.
Has influences from China and Spain.
Uses sticks that represent simple weaponry of people.
Represents the battles and rituals between the Christian Ilocanos and non-Christian Tinnguian
tribes.