Philippine Cultural Performances Quiz

Filipino Dances and Festivals

• Traditional dances are an important part of Filipino cultural heritage, performed during fiestas and other celebrations.

Singkil

• A traditional Filipino dance that recounts the epic legend of "Darangan" story of Princess Gandingan.
• The dance involves two dancers, male and female, who step gracefully in and out of crossed sets of bamboo poles being moved together and apart to the music.
• The rhythmic clapping of crisscrossed bamboo poles represents the trees that were falling, which the princess gracefully avoids.

Maglalatik: The Dance of War

• A traditional dance that mimics the battle between the Christian and the Muslim Moro tribesmen.
• An all-male dance that uses "bao" or coconut shell as props, also called "Magbabao".
• The dance signifies the people's acceptance of Catholicism and the detachment from paganism.

Ati-Atihan Festival

• Celebrated in honor of the Santo Niño, a Catholic festival.
• Originated from the peaceful agreement between the new Malay settlers and the island's natives, where the settlers colored their faces with soot to resemble and honor the darker-skinned Aetas.

Maskara Festival

• Celebrated annually in Bacolod City, similar to Brazil's Rio Carnival.
• Literally translates to "many faces," due to the smiling faces of the mask.
• Nicknamed "The City of Smiles".

Pamulinawen

• A courting song used to appease an angry girl.
• The singer will gladly accept torture over her anger at him.

Buyogan Festival

• Celebrated annually in the month of August.
• Depicts the origin of the town's name in a well-choreographed dance, inspired by the bees (buyog) that the town of Abuyog, Leyte got its name from.

Tinikling

• The Philippine National Dance.
• The name came from the birds locally known as Tikling, and the term tinikling literally means "tikling-like".
• Usually performed during religious processions at the town fiesta of Binan as a mark of obeisance to the patron saint of the town, San Isidro de Labrador.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw

• A dance that requires excellent balancing skill to maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, placed on the head and at the back of each hand.
• Originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro during the 15th century when the country was colonized by the Spanish.

Itik-Itik

• A dance inspired by the movements of a duck, created by Kanang, a young lady from Surigao del Norte.
• Characterized by short, choppy steps and splashing water on the back while calling to its mate.

Sinulog Festival

• Celebrated in honor of Santo Niño, with a forward-backward, flowing movement that people offer as a sign of gratitude.
• Has environmental preservation dimension, emphasizing the importance of bees in nature preservation and man's health.

Kadayawan Festival

• An annual festival in the city of Davao, celebrating the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest, and the serenity of living.
• Name derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior, or beautiful.

Lanzones Festival

• Celebrated in the province of Camiguin, honoring the bounty harvest of the Lanzones fruit.
• Main events include the Lanzones Festival Street Dancing and Tableau Competition and the Miss Camiguin Tourism.