Philippine Folk Literature and Performing Arts

• Epic poetry is a type of folk literature that dates back to the pre-colonial period in the Philippines.
• One of the most famous epic poems is Biag ni Lam-ang, the national epic of the Ilocano people.
• Duplo is a poetic debate presented through song and dance, which originated from indigenous courtship customs.
• Moro Moro is a type of theater that usually lasts for several days, and presents both secular themes like love and vengeance, and the Spanish-influenced religious theme of the conflict between Christians and Moors.
• Senakulo is a religious custom that uses alternately spoken and sung words and is the dramatization of the life and death of Jesus Christ.
• Traditional Folk Dance is a type of theater that with its varied cultures and communities throughout its 7000 islands, the Philippines has a diverse collection of folk dances.
• Bodabil is a form of theater that was an American import in the pre-war era but became uniquely Filipino with the indigenization of the name. Like its American counterpart, bodabil featured a variety of musical numbers, comedic and dramatic skits, and song and dance numbers.
• Sarsuwela is a type of melodrama, usually in three acts, that uses alternately spoken and sung words.

Explore the rich tradition of Philippine folk literature and performing arts, including epic poetry, poetic debates, religious customs, traditional folk dances, and various forms of theater that showcase the cultural diversity of the Philippines.