Mapeh

Arts

The Ati-Atihan Festival is known as the wildest of the Philippine festivals which means “make-believe
Atis” wherein participants portray the natives of Kalibo, Aklan called “Ati or Aetas”. It is a week-long
festival held annually every third week of January that consist of a tribal dance parade with drum music,
costumes and indigenous accessories to honor the Santo Nino or the Holy Child Jesus. People cheer and
shout “Hala Bira!” and “Viva Santo Nino!” to encourage enthusiasm and continuous dancing for the
duration of the festival.

The Sinulog Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in the
city of Cebu to honor the Santo Nino, commemorate the Filipino rejection of their former religious
views, and acceptance of Christianity. This festival is famous among local and international tourist for its
grand street parade which imitates the type of dancing done by the natives of Cebu before they were
baptized as Christians.

The petitioners often yell out “Pit Senior”. The flock to the festival for prayer request and thanksgiving
while dancing, believing that Santo Nino will hear them. Different groups of dancers dressed in colorful
attire are accompanied by rhythmic music of the drums, percussions, trumpets, and native gongs.

The Sublian Festival is an annual celebration on the twenty third day of July reflecting the Batanguenos’
commitment and great love to their town’s patrons, the Holy Cross of Bauan and Agoncillio, and the
Santo Nino of Batangas City. It was originally a religious ceremony that involves praying, eating, dancing
the “Subli”, and singing verses with strict skeletal melody.

This religious commitment was translated to “Subli’, a dance local to Batangas. Traditionally, the subli is
performed with chanting and accompanied by drums. Subli come from two words: “subsub” bending
your body forward or downward) and “bali” (broken.) Thus, throughout the dance, male dancers are in
trunk-forward-bend position to give the impression of broken bodies.

At present, the Sublianfestival features street dancing, harana (singing of Filipino courtship songs).
Indigenous Filipino games, and Lupakan (sharing of “Nilupak” a delicacy mad from cassava, sweet potato
or banana).

Moriones Festival is a colorful folk-religious festival during holy week in the island known as the “heart
of the Philippines,” the island of Marinduque. This festival is a reenactment of the story of the Saint
Longinus. He was the centurion who pierces the side of Jesus Christ and regained his vision after drops
of blood and water hit his eyes. He proclaimed the miracle and because of this he was punished to great
pain and was beheaded under Pontius Pilate’s order.

Participants play the role of Roman soldiers and wear the moriones costume so that no one can identify
them. The Morions wear their costume for an entire week. Only when they eat or sleep, they take it off.
They perceive this as a form of sacrifice as they must stand and walk around on thin strapped slippers
under the hot sun while wearing the heavy wooden masks. The Moriones scare children away and court
the ladies by singing and dancing for them.
Kadayawan Festival is held in Davao every third week of August in celebration of thanksgiving for good
harvest with parade floats of fresh fruits and flowers, and street dancing with colorful tribal costumes,
and accessories.

Kadayawan comes from the word “Madayaw” meaning thanksgiving for nature’s gift; warm and
friendliness greeting; and to describe things that is good, valuable superior, and beautiful.

This celebration originated from tribal festivals of the “Lumad” and Muslim tribes of Davao in the 70’s
featuring the dances and rituals of thanksgiving. It was used to be called “Apo Duwaling” to promote
Davao’s famous icons: the highest peek of the country “Mt. Apo”, King of fruits “Durian”, and queen of
orchids “Waling-waling”.

Ibalong Feastival is held in Bicol Region, aims to express friendliness, enthusiasm and goodwill to all
people. Bicolanos and tourist celebrate the festival to commemorate the three heroes of the Bicol epic
in the town of Ibalong namely Batlog, Handyong, Bantong.

In this festival, the people parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes like the heroes and villains
of the epic.

Komedya comes from 16th century Spanish comedia (play). It is a play written in verse which uses
traditional methods of the marcha ( march ) for entrance or exit, Batalla (choreograph fighting and
magia ( magical effects). It is one of the colorful theatrical traditons in the Philippines used by the
Spanish as the method to spread Christianity. This theatrical form describes the conflicts of the
Christians and Muslims. This theatrical performance spread instantly but was criticized because of its
lack of national importance and realism.

2 Types of Komedya

Secular Komedya - usually performed in town celebrations. An example of secular komedya popularized
in 1600’s is the “Moro-moro,” that use stories that revolve around kings, queens, princes, princesses,
animals, and supernatural being. Most of the time, it portrays the clash between Christians and Filipino
Muslims.

Tibag or Arakyo

 another type of Secular Komedya in Nueva Ecija that is performed during Santacrusan.
 it is the reenacment of the search for the Holy Cross by Queen Helena and her son Emperor
Constantine

Religious Komedya - mostly performed to enhance religious festivities. It focuses on the life of religious
icons (Jesus Christ, St. Michael, and other patron saints.) Examples are Siete Palabras, Comedia de San
Miguel and Senakulo; the Lenten predentation of Passion of Christ

Sarsuela – is an art form of lyric theatre drama, comical in nature ad it is incorporated with singing
dancing and dialogue. It is play in prose. Sarsuela originated in the Philippines in the 1800’s. It portrays
the typical the typical Filipino realities and stories and social relations which viewers can relate in their
lives such as elections and feast, marriage and family, vices and values. Walang Sugat is one of the most
famous Sarsuela in the country.
Bodabil - Is another stage show that became popular during the Japaneses period based on the French
vaudaville. These were called stage show during Japanese occupation and later variety show. Bodabil
was developed because city growers wanted to uplift their emotional stability from the usual stage acts
to a stage presentation featuring comedy, musical, monologue, skits, impersonators, acrobats and even
magical acts. Bodabil Formed musical trends and musicians; performers; and performance genres. The
entertainers helped to make jazz and blues popular and admired in our country.

Different famous Bodabil stars:

 Bayani Casimiro
 Dely Atay-Atayan
 Togo and Pugo
 Chichay
 Rogelio de la Rosa
 Dolphy
 Leopoldo Salcedo
 Katy Dela Cruz

Music