Philippine Skyland

The mountainous Central Cordilera region of Northern Luzon is also known by the term Philippine Skyland. Inhabiting the rugged terrain are six ethno-linguistic tribes known as the Ibaloy, Kankanay, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, and Bontoc. They prefer to be called by their respective tribal names rather than the collective term Igorot, which is used by the Spaniards and later Christian lowlanders. Indigenous tribes preserve their customs, lore and tribal identity, their dances reflecting their unaffected way of life. Gongs and other percussion instruments are featured in these dances which portray primitive, religious and secular rituals.

El Salon Filipino

The Philippines were under Spanish rule for 376 years. The strong Spanish heritage that resulted, adapted and blended into the Philippine environment. Displaying a very strong Spanish influence, the dances were nonetheless, filipinized as evidenced by the use of bamboo castanets and the abanico, or Asian fan. Typical attire for these dances are the formal Maria Clara dress and barong tagalog, an embroidered long-sleeved shirt made of pineapple fibres.

Muslim Philippines

In the southern part of the Philippines, on the large island of Mindanao and the adjacent Sulu Archipelago live about 6 million Filipinos of the Islamic religion. These Muslim Filipinos who embraced Mohammedanism as early as the 14th century have successfully resisted attempts at Christianization. They differ markedly in their customs and culture from the balance of the Philippine population. Music, dance, and costume provide an accurate mirror of Muslim Philippine life. Vivid colours and rhythmic movements reflect the influence of the Arabian and indo-malayan cultures. The ethno-linguistic groups who are primarily considered Muslim are the Maranao, Maguindanao, Samal and Tausug.

Mindanao Province

Pockets of cultural minorities live in the style of their forebears in the hills and mountains throughout the Philippine Archipelago. The hillside and interior of Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines are inhabited by non-Christian Filipinos whose cultures are animistic beliefs predate both Islam and Christianity. Dance is a basic part of life, still performed essentially for the gods. As in the most ancient cultures, unlike those of the Muslim tribes in their midst, their dances are closely intertwined with ceremonials, rituals, sacrifice and life.

Rural Philippines

Life in the rural Philippines today, as in the past, is simple and pleasant. In a country abundantly blessed by nature, there is much to celebrate in dance, song and story.

Dances of the rice growing countryside express peoples joy in work, love for music and gaiety; thanksgiving for a good harvest or simply a song for a pretty day. This portion of Folkloricos program will feature the national dance of the Philippines, Tinikling, or the Bamboo dance, which derives its name from the bird Tikling. The dance imitates the birds movement as it hops from one rice paddy to another.