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Saturday, April 30, 2022

Folk Dance Of Western Visayas Region: Kuradang

 KURADANG



The Kuradang is an upbeat dance from Tuburan, Pototan, Iloilo. The people in this barrio are lighthearted and has an intense passion for singing and dancing. The social gathering is not complete without dancing. One of the dances performed during the fiesta or a celebration in Tuburan is the Kuradang. The name of the dance was probably taken from the word "Kudangdang" which means posh, showy, overdressed, extravagant, lavish or luxuriously epicurean. 


COSTUME. The girl is wearing a patadyong, camisa or a kimona with a soft pañuelo over one shoulder. The boy is wearing barong tagalog and colorful trousers. The dancers are all barefooted. 

MUSIC. is composed of two parts: A and B. 

COUNT one, two, or one, and, two to a measure in 2/4 time; one, two, three, or one, two, and three in 3/4 time.

FORMATION. Two couples facing each other,  about six feet apart, form a set. The girls stand on the right side of their respective partners. When facing audience, couple at the left, No. 1, is called mayor and couple at the right, No. 2 is called menor  (see diagram below). Any number of sets may participate in this dance.


Audience

    X                     O
      1   →                    ← 2    
       O                    X  

Kuradang Step (Iloilo) - Music 2/4 time     Count 1, and, 2, 1, 2 to two measures

Change step sideward right (left), R (L) forearm turn to reverse "T" position, L (R) hand down at side. Twist body slightly to right (left) (cts. 1 and 2). Hop on R (L), swing the L (R) foot across the R (L) knee in front obliquely backward right (left), bend arms forward at shoulder level (ct. 1), hop on R (L) and swing L (R) foot obliquely forward left (right). Turn forearms to assume reverse "T" position (ct. 2). This step may be done in all directions. 

NOTE:

1. The music is played continuously with each part played twice.
2. All Kuradang steps should be done with arm movements.
3. There is a slight jogging of the body throughout the dance.


INTRODUCTION    

Music Introduction.

    Face front
       Starting with R foot, take three steps forward, arms down at sides (cts. 1, 2, 3), close L to R (ct. 1), tap L close to R in rear three times and at the same time clap hands in front of chest three times (cts. 2, and 3) ______________________________________ 2M
 

I

    Partners face each other.
      (a) Starting with R foot, take four change steps forward to partner's place, passing by R shoulders. Forearm turn to reverse "T" position, R and L alternately, free hand down at side. Bend trunk slightly to the right and left side alternately _______________ 4M

      (b) Turn right about. Repeat (a), going to proper places. __ 4M

      (c) Girl 1 and Girl 2 face each other. Repeat (a) and (b). In the meantime, Boys clap hands on cts. 1, and, 2, 1, 2, for every two measures __________________________________________ 8M

      (d) Boy 1 and Boy 2 face each other. Repeat movements of Girls, and Girls clap hands as Boys did in (c) __________________  8M


II

Partner face each other. Couples 1 and 2 are doing their movements simultaneously.

Couple 1.
(a) Starting with R foot, take four kuradang steps forward to exchange places passing by R shoulders __________________ 8M
(b) Turn right about. Repeat (a), going to proper places ______ 8M
(c) Repeat movements of Couple 2 as in (a) below. _________16M

Couple 2.
(a) Take eight kuradang steps sideward, R and L alternately __16M
(b) Repeat movements of Couple 1 as in (a) and (b) above. ___16M


INTERMISSION

Partner face each other.
  Take eight kuradang steps sideward, R and L alternately ___16 M


III

  Couples 1 and 2 face each other. They do their movements simultaneously.
  (a) Couple 1. Starting with R foot, take three kuradang steps to front of Couple 2 __________________________________ 6 M
       Couple 2. Starting with R foot, take three kuradang steps turning around in place clockwise ___________________________ 6 M
  (b) Girl 1 and Boy 2. Starting with L foot, take one kuradang step to exchange places, passing by R shoulders. Take big steps. In the meantime, Girl 2 and Boy 1 execute one kuradang in place starting with L foot _______________________________________ 2 M

   At the end of the fourth kuradang step, the Girls are all on one side (right side) and the Boy are on the other side (left side).

  (c) Girls and Boys face each other. All execute four kuradang steps sideward, R and L alternately. _________________________ 8 M
  (d) Girl 1 and Boy 2. Starting with R foot, take four kuradang steps moving little by little forward to return back to their proper places. Take small steps ____________________________________ 8 M

In the meantime, Girl 2 and Boy 1, starting with R foot execute four kuradang steps turning around in place clockwise _________ 8 M


IV

Partners face each other.
  (a) Couples 1 and 2 takes two kuradang steps sideward, 
       R and L  _______________________________________ 4 M
  (b) Boy 1. Starting with R foot, take two kuradang steps forward to
 front of Couple 2. In the meantime, Couple 2 executes two kuradang steps, starting with R foot, turning around in place clockwise. Finish facing Boy 1. Girl 1 stay in place and clap hands on cts. 1, and 2, 1, 2, two times. _______________________________________ 4 M
  (c) Boy 1 and Couple 2. Starting with R foot, take six kuradang steps forward, moving around clockwise. Finish in starting place. Girl 1 clapping hands as in (b) _________________________ 12 M
  (d) Boy 1. Turn right about. Starting with R foot, take two kuradang steps forward to proper place. Girl 1 clapping hands as in (b) __ 4 M

 Couple 2. Starting with R foot, take two kuradang steps turning around in place clockwise ______________________________ 4 M
  (e) Repeat all (a-d) with Girl 2, starting in (b) going to front of Couple 1 while Boy 2 does the clapping _________________ 24 M


V

Repeat Figure I _____________________________________ 24 M



FINALE

All face front.

      Repeat Introduction  ______________________________ 2 M





Music Of Kuradang 


Thursday, April 14, 2022

Gay Filipino In History: Tapar Of Iloilo

There are a number of uprisings and revolt throughout the centuries of Spanish colonial period over abuse, excessive taxation on local products, corrupt and ill system of government among others. There are also some rebellion which was ignited by people's faith and beliefs. One such religious revolt took place in Panay caused by convergence of faith. This religious revolt is led by a certain Tapar from Iloilo in 1663.

Tapar or Tapara is a native babaylan from the town of Oton in Iloilo province in the island of Panay who was a new convert of Catholicism. He was known for founding a religious cult that merged Catholic religious practices with traditional rituals a modified form of Christianity. He persuaded the locals to join his group and attracted many followers with his stories about his frequent conversation with a demon. He proclaimed himself "God Almighty" and went around garbed in a woman's dress. According to Fray Juan Fernandez, who chronicled important events in some Iloilo pueblos, described Tapara as a mystic who dressed and acted like a female.

Tapar taught taught his followers to worship idols, performed prodigies resembling miracles, and became a prophet. He promised the natives:

a. a life of abundance (weaves fish, coconut fiber into linen)

b. that they won't be hit/won't die when hit by Spanish muskets; those who will die in the rebellion will live again.

Tapar known as the "Eternal Father," assigned among his followers a Son, a Holy Ghost, a Virgin Mary, twelve apostles, a Pope, and several bishops. It was at this time when the people felt estranged from the Spanish friars because of their prevalent misdemeanor and misdeeds. 

Tapar's syncretic religion appropriated Catholic terminologies and ignored the Spanish priests because Tapar believed that they had their own "popes", "bishops", and "priests", as well as "Jesus Christ", "Holy Ghost" and "Trinity" who could minister to them in their own nativistic ways.

The growing religious following of Tapar reached the then Spanish parish priest curate (friar) assigned to the town of Ogtong (Oton town today), Fr. Francisco de Mesa and he criticized their unorthodox practices. The followers of Tapar were agitated and they executed the parish priest for condemning their religious movement. Tapar's group burned the church and the priest's house, and fled to the mountains.

The Spanish authority knew about the incident and they launched an attack to quell the emergence of the new religion. Spanish troops were sent to Oton and by employing hired spies, the Spaniards caught up with the principal leaders who, in the process of fighting back, were killed. Their corpses were carried back to the port of Iloilo, then fastened to bamboo poles in the Halawod (Jalaur) River to be fed on by crocodiles. The woman who was named as the group's "Blessed Virgin Mary" (Maria Santisima) was mercilessly impaled on a bamboo stake and placed strategically at the mouth of the Laglag (now Dueñas) river to be eaten also by crocodiles. By 1664, as claimed by the Spaniards, peace had returned to Oton. (Agoncillo 1979, Zaide 1957).



Sources:

Tapar Of Panay Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/taparofpanay/posts/tapar-revolt-1663personal-informationname-tapar-of-panaynationality-babaylan-nat/989151497772042/

Tapar Revolt Wiki Pilipinas - https://en.wikipilipinas.org/view/Tapar_Revolt_(1663)

10 Amazing Pinoy LGBTS Who Broke Barriers And Made History, Filipiknow - https://filipiknow.net/lgbt-personalities-philippine-history/

The Tapar Uprising In Oton Iloilo, Bridging The Gap By Henry F. Funtecha The News Today Online Edition - http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/02/09/the.tapar.uprising.in.oton.iloilo.html

https://sckool.org/the-underlying-causes-and-failures-of-the-philippine-revolts-a.html#Visayan_Revolts_1588_(Cebu,Panay,other_Visayan_islands)__Minor_revolts_against_colonial_policies___1621_(_Bohol)


Gay Filipino In History Introduction


We have known so many men and women in Philippine history which tells of their exploits, heroism, accomplishments and contributions to helped us win our independence and freedom from tyranny, build our nation but most of all gives color to the Pearl of the Orient history.

While we know the stories of some Filipino individuals in history whose contribution or significant body of work gives an indelible mark which makes a big difference and impact through time, some other Filipinos unknown and unheard of by many of today's generations also made some impact and for a time make some noteworthy buzz worthy to be mentioned and be known in our nation's long journey to what we are today. 

Aside from the stories of the unknown straight Filipino men and women there are also members of the gay community in history whose stories are also quite interesting to tell and be heard of. We will now know their unheard stories which can also amuse us and inspire us to be courageous and motivate us to do great now and in the future. 

In the succeeding series, Ocean Breeze blog will feature some of these colorful personalities who made an imprint in our annals chapter of courageous act, heroism and greatness.

Friday, April 8, 2022

Unknown Filipino Heroes Introduction



 

Soon I will be featuring some of the Philippines little known unheralded heroes from the past till the present day which the Ocean Breeze blog believes deserves to be honored and worthy of recognition and attention which contributed significantly in our nation's history and/or have inspired so many Filipinos to be a little hero of their own selves. Their life story that were rarely discussed or featured will be read and known here in Ocean Breeze blog.