Folk Dance of Western Visayas Region: Urukay

In the Philippines, it is customary to have a wedding feast no matter how poor or humble the bride and groom are. This feast is usually held at the bride's house or at the newly-build house of the couple. In this celebration, there is much fun and good-natured teasing. 

In Anini-y, Antique, where this dance originated, the parents of both parties perform the Urukay dance at the wedding feast. 

The Urukay dance is first performed by the father of the groom and the mother of the bride. Then another couple, the father of the bride and the mother of the groom dance the same dance or improvise their own steps.

The Urukay dance is a spirited dance with the male dancer showing off his power and superiority over his female partner by ordering the girl to crawl and pass between his legs in figure IV. The girl retaliates by elbowing the boy. All the time the onlookers cheer and encourage them to show off. 

COSTUME. Girl wears patadyong, camisa or kimona, soft kerchief around neck, and corcho, or chinelas/slippers.

MUSIC. is composed of two parts: A and B

COUNT one, two; one, and two; or one, and, two, and to a measure.

FORMATION. Partners face each other about six feet apart. When facing audience, girl stands at the right side of the boy. This is best danced by only one pair. (Second pair repeats the dance after the first pair) 

DANCE OF FATHER OF GROOM AND MOTHER OF BRIDE.

I

Music A.

       Partners face each other.

       (a) Rock R forward (ct. 1), and rock L backward (ct. 2) alternately six times (6 counts). Step R close to L (ct. 1), pause (ct. 2). Girl holds patadyong, boy places hands on waist. _______________ 4M

        (b) Raise L knee in front, L arm bent forward at chest level, sway body slightly backward, R hand holding patadyong, (ct. 1), tap L foot in front, trunk erect. L hand down at side, R hand of girl holding patadyong that of boy is placed on waist (ct. 2) __________________________________________ 1M

        (c) Starting with L foot, take four steps forward to partner's place, passing by L shoulders (cts. 1, 2, 1, 2). Take two steps in place turning left about to face each other. (cts. 1, 2) ___________________ 3M

        (d) Repeat all (a-c), starting with L foot. Reverse position of hands in (b). Finish in proper places, passing by R shoulders in (c). ________________________________________________________ 8M

II

Music B.

      Partners face each other.

      (a) With R foot leading, take eight mincing steps sideward right (cts. 1, and, 2, and, 2 and 1). Girl holds patadyong, Boy places hands on waist. ___________________________________________ 2M

      (b) Bend body slightly to right side, R arm in reverse "T" position and kumintang, L hand on waist (cts. 1, 2). _______________________________________________________________________1M

      (c) Repeat (b), reverse position of hands, bend body to left side. _________________________1M

      (d) Repeat (a-c), L foot leading. Reverse direction and position of hands in (b). _____________4M

      (e) Repeat all (a-d) _____________________________________________________________8M

III

Music A.

      Partners face each other. Boy and Girl do their movements simultaneously.

      Boy. Hold two opposite corners of kerchief diagonally.

      (a). Starting with R foot, take eight change steps forward going around girl clockwise. Start with R hand up, L hand down. Reverse position of hands every measure. __________________________ 8M

      (b) Repeat movements of Girl in (a) below. Hands on waist ____________________________8M

  

    Girl.

      (a) Rock R forward (ct. 1), and rock L backward (ct. 2) alternatively, sixteen times. L hand on waist, R holding patadyong and swinging forward and backward alternately. ______________________8M

      (b) Repeat movements of Boy in (a) above.) Hold kerchief in the same manner ____________8M

IV

Music B. First time.

       Partners face each other.

      (a) Boy stands with feet apart sideward, holding kerchief in front at two opposite corners, and says aloud to Girl, "Suhot, Balaye!" (Pass through, Balaye!) pointing to his open legs at the same time. Upon hearing this, the onlookers also shout, "Suhot, Balaye!" __________________________________8M

      Girl hesitatingly assumes four's base position and crawls between the legs of partner. While she is doing this the onlookers, shout, clap hands and tease girl. ________________________________8M

V

Music B. Second Time

       Partners face each other.

       (a) Starting with R foot, partners execute change steps forward going to any direction. Boy dances nimbly, trying to avoid girl who on her part tries to dig her elbow into him several times as they dance around ________________________________________________________________________8M

NOTE: To end the dance, girl takes her kerchief and puts it around the neck of the other girl (the mother of the groom) and boy puts his kerchief around the neck of the other boy (the father of the bride). The next couple may repeat the same dance or may improvise their own steps and movements. 

Folk Dance of Western Visayas Region: Lanceros de Negros

LANCEROS DE NEGROS

During the Spanish times, Lanceros was one of the most popular quadrille dances in the Philippines. It is similar to Rigodon and is danced in important social affairs to formally open a big ball. Unlike the Lanceros as danced in Luzon and in some regions in the Visayas, this version from Silay, Negros Occidental is in longways formation. It is a very lively and colorful dance. 

COSTUME. Girl wears Maria Clara style costume. Boy wears barong tagalog and black trousers. 

MUSIC is divided into four parts A, B, C, and Finale.

COUNT one, two; one, and two; or one, and two, and to a measure

FORMATION. Partners face each other about six feet apart. When facing audience, Girl is at right side of partner. Four to any number of pairs may participate. 

If desired, a square formation may be used, each pair occupying a corner of an imaginary square. 

NEW STEPS USED:

      Brincos Con Puntillas - Jump and land with R (L) foot across the L (R)  in front, both feet flat on the floor (ct. 1), hop on L (R) and foot circle outward in the air with R (L) foot (ct. and), step lightly on ball of R (L) foot in rear L (R) and raise heel of L (R) (ct. 2), spring on  R (L) and land on L (R) and at the same time point R (L) toe in front of L (R) with R (L) knee slightly bent (ct. and).

      Brincos Con Vueltas - Same as brincos con puntillas but make a quarter turn right (left) when hopping on L (R) on the first ct. and. Make another quarter turn right (left) before stepping on the ball of R (L) foot in rear of L (R) on ct. 2. There are two brincos con vueltas to a complete turn (2 M).

                                                                        I

Music A.

      Partners face each other. Throughout this figure, Girl's L hand is placed on waist, R hand holding skirt, Boy's arms swinging naturally down at sides.

     (a) Starting with R foot, take four small steps forward to meet at center (cts. 1, 2, 1, 2) ________________________ 2 M

     (b) Repeat (a) moving backward to proper places ________________________ 2 M

      Face left so that Girl's back is toward audience, Boy faces audience.

     (c) Repeat (a) and (b) _______________________ 4 M

      Face each other.

      (d) Starting with R foot, take four steps obliquely left forward, passing by R shoulders _______________________ 2 M

       (e) Repeat (d), moving obliquely right backward to proper places ________________ 2 M

        (f) Repeat (d), moving obliquely right forward, passing by L shoulders (2 M), and in (e) moving obliquely left backward. Take smaller steps backward so that partners finish near each other (2 M). _____________ 4 M

   II

Music B.

         Face partner and join R hands, free hand of Girl holding skirt and that of Boy is placed on waist.

         (a) Starting with R foot, take eight small change steps forward moving once around clockwise. Bend trunk slightly to right and left side alternately. ---------------------------------------------------- 8 M

         Drop R hands, turn right about join L hands free hands as above.
         (b) Repeat (a), moving counterclockwise -------------------8 M

 III

Music C.

       Partners face each other

       (a) Take four galop steps sideward right. Arms in lateral position, sideward left, shoulder level. Do not put weight on L foot at the fourth galop step _________________________________ 2 M

       (b) Repeat (a) moving to sideward left. Reverse position of arms. _____________________ 2 M

       (c) Execute four brincos con vueltas, turning right and making two turns. Girl holding skirt. Boy places hands on waist _____ 4 M

        Face left so that Girl's back is toward audience. Boy faces audience.

       (d) Repeat all (a-c). Partners pass front to front when doing the galop steps. _____________8 M

   IV

Music B.

      

     Partners face audience. Join inside hands, free hands as in figure II.

     (a) Starting with outside foot, take four change steps forward. Swing the joined hands backward and forward at the same time looking at partner and away from partner, alternately four times ______4 M

     Drop inside hands, turn outward to face about. Join inside hands, free hands as in (a). 

     (b) Repeat (a), starting with inside foot. Start swinging joined hands forward and looking away from partner.____________ 4 M

     

     Drop inside hands. Face each other and join R hands, free hands as in (a).

     (c) Starting with R foot, take four change steps forward, turning once around clockwise _____ 4 M

     Drop R hands, join L hands, free hands as in (a).

     (d) Repeat (c), moving counterclockwise. Drop L hands and finish in proper places _________ 4 M

 V

Music C.

       Partners face each other. Partners do their movements simultaneously.

       (a) Girl. Execute two brincos con vueltas making a complete turn right once (2 M)

            Boy. Clap hands five times on cts. 1, 2, 1, and 2______ 2 M

       (b) Repeat (a), Boy dancing and Girl clapping hands____ 2 M

       Partners face each other and assume crossed-arm position, R over L.

       (c) Take four brincos con puntillas moving toward audience - Jump and land with foot away from audience across in front and hopping on foot toward audience.  ______________________ 4 M

       Drop hands.

       (d) Repeat (a) and (b) __________________________________________________ 4 M

       (e) Repeat (c), starting with other foot and moving away from audience. __________________ 4 M

SALUDO

(Bowing)

Music Finale.

        Partner faces each other.

        (a) Pause_______________________________________1 M

        (b) Execute a three-step turn right in place (cts. 1, 2, 1), pause (ct. 2) Arms in fourth position, R arm high. __________________________________________________ 2 M

        (c) Repeat (b), turning left. Reverse position of arms. ________________________________ 2 M

        (d) Join R hands, free hand of Girl holding skirt, that of Boy is placed on waist. Girl whirls making right turns under the arch of arms. Boy stands in place. ___________________________________ 2 M

        (e) Face each other. In crossed-arm position, R over L, pull away from each other. __________ 1M

        (f) Girl passes under R arm of Boy and finish in front and a little bit to the left side of Boy. Partners look at each other. ___________________________________________________1 M

Music of Lanceros de Negros

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 

Daigon Christmas Song Lyrics

This is the lyrics of the song Daigon, a Hiligaynon or Ilonggo Christmas carol song. This is sung every Christmas as a caroling song as one of the last songs of the carolers as the song signifies leaving for another home or place. I will try to translate it later in English. Listen for the song below in Youtube starting at the timestamp of 1:48.

(An Ilonggo Christmas Carol Song)

Daigon

O dungga man ninyo
Ang makaluluoy
Nga yari sa idalom
Nga nagapasilong
Nagahulat sang inyo
Maayong kabubut on
Nagabatas sang tun og
Sining kagab ihon

Sa pagkabulahan nga gab i
Ang amon karon nga pagkari;
Kay natao ang manunubos
Sa kalibutan nga luhaan



Paalam na sa inyo
Mga kautoran
Kag kabay sang diwa
Kamo kaluoyan


 
Paalam paalam
Sa inyo nga tanan
Kay kami na karon
Ang magataliwan.

Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs XIII

About Different Kinds of Beliefs:

1. The howling of the dog at night indicate the evil spirits wandering around. Responding to their strange call at night means death to someone who answered back.

2. About clothing and garments, it's a belief and practice that the new dress is worn first for the church before anything else or before any other occasion so that it will last.

3. If Friday falls on the 13th day of the month many accidents or disaster might happen.

4. Sitting on a mortar hampers or slows down growth.

5. The lending of money, rice and salt to the neighbors after 5 o'clock in the afternoon will hamper or stop the prosperity of the owner's residence or household. The lending of money, rice or salt at night is not good because bad luck will happen to you or you will not get paid immediately or they will permanently forget their debt.

6. A lady who is on her menstruation period should not pick up fruits.

7. If a child has a mole on its face under his or her eyes, and in the tear's path, a tragedy will come on his or her life or if not, he or she can easily get widowed if they will marry.

8. It was believed that some animals, circumstances, situations, objects in having luck or fortune and bad luck or misfortune.

9. Seven years of bad luck will befell a person who breaks a glass or glass objects.

10. If someone killed a cat, one will put in a situation full of bad luck for seven years.

11. The number 13 is still considered as the number to be avoided.

12. Whoever among the 13 people partaking in a meal in a table or taking a picture will face death or misfortune or mishap.

13. The beautiful or fortunate fate is present and coming in the form of horseshoe, coins and talisman owned by the people.

14. The entry of a snake in a house is a sign of rainfall of riches and fortune to the family.

15. Never winnow some rice outside the window because the spirit of the rice will fly.

16. In order to be lucky the whole day, wear first the shoe on the right foot.

17. It was considered to be lucky the cramps on the right ankle while it's bad luck if the cramp is on the left ankle.

18. Picking up a horseshoe is being considered as a good fortune. Put it on the stairs of the house.

19. The dreams often means the exact opposite of it.

20. If a person dreams of a huge fortune, he will become poorer.

21. However, the dreams in the first hours of the morning is believed to come true.

22. If a man dreams of his girlfriend, he just needs to reverse or flip turn his pillow so that his girlfriend will also dream about him.

23. If someone dreams of many birds, it means the coming of many friends and of good fortune. If the bird in your dream is captured or caught, it means you are about to marry. However if the bird in your dream was shot, someone will betray or is being unfaithful to you.

24. If a person will give a piece of ginger to someone, he or she should NOT hand it over directly through their hands to someone. The ginger should be put to any surface objects (eg. tables, chair, bed, stand etc.) by the giver and from there, the receiver or recipient will get it else the recipient will have an intense stomachache. Ilonggos call it as "usog" or "osog". For the remedy of the illness, the giver of the ginger is called and he should touched the victim / recipient stomach to get rid of the pain. It is unbelievably strange that by touching the stomach could relieve pain. It is a reminder for someone handing over a ginger not to pass it directly to avoid this malady.

25. The cooked calabaza or big winter squash with chicken is usually blamed for or the main culprit cause of the leprosy for those who eat it.

26. In passing by the dwarf's mound or punso in Tagalog or in Hiligaynon it is called "bungyod",  one should make an excuse to the supernatural beings by saying "tabi-tabi" so you will not contracted by a strange illness. The bungyod or dwarf's mound is treated with respect or care not disturbing or stepping on it.

27. Never express any statement or gesture of surprise or wonder to any properties of the tamawos or fairies and diwata or deities and you might encounter some misfortune or mishap for those who mention or who took notice of it.

28. The balete tree is the dwellings of the tamawo or fairy. Getting close to it or cutting it would cause a mishap or disaster or even death. Balete is called Lunok in Hiligaynon. The same goes with the Terminalia Catappa or Indian Almond tree, Bubog tree or Sterculia foetida tree or wild almond or bastard poon tree in English and Dapdap or Erythrina Variegata or Eythrina Orientalis tree were believed to be inhabited by the tamawo or fairies.

29. If a farmer has done kaingin or the slash and burn farming and one of its child got sick, the family presumed that the house or dwellings of the tamawo or fairy was destroyed, ruined or badly damaged that's why they take some revenge by inflicting some illness or sickness to a member or members of the family.

30. Taking a bath is avoided every first Friday of the month or cutting the nails every Tuesday or Friday. Taking a bath or cutting the nails on this day is calling for sickness or illness.

31. The children were not allowed by the elders to take a bath on the feast day of Saint Lazarus in the fear of being contracted by leprosy.

32. If a person is wounded and it bleeds profusely, presently the water level in the ocean or sea is high.

33. If a person bit his own tongue, it means that the person is being talked about by other people or being gossiped by other people.

34. The elders avoid sitting in a chopping board (sangkalan in Tagalog and tapalan in Hiligaynon) or else they will be blamed for anything or will be held liable to anything even those they did not commit in the house.

35. In celebrating a fiesta in the house, never forget to drop to the floor a piece of the cooked dish before it will be served. In this way, any disaster or mishap is avoided.

36. If someone is eating and the spoon has dropped or fell, it means that you will have a female visitor or guest and if a fork has fallen or dropped, you will have a male visitor or guest.

37. Other people are called by the name of a fish which possesses the following traits, characteristics or attributes:

pantat (eel) - name of a lady who has an ugly face;
sureb (Yellow Tail Fusilier Fish) - greedy
bilong-bilong (Moonfish) - white
tamasok - filthy looking 
laway-laway - talkative 
bangrus (milkfish) - beautiful and nice

 

Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs XII

About Different Occasions:

1. New Year - All the basic necessities, good and supplies should be complete and full so that there will be no missing, lacking or scarcity of anything throughout the whole year. The paminhe is the first step in planting. Different kinds of seeds or grains were collected and put in a plate covered properly by a coconut shell or anything. The location, site or area where the seeds are planted were properly noted, remembered or memorized. In the following day or last day of the year or eve of the New Year, the first thing to do is to see if there's some seeds that changes or switch places or area. It was said that the seeds are moving. The seeds which switches places or position will become deficient or inadequate the following year. So, one can prepare well for this kind of scarcity or inadequacies. Prepare also a lot of food so that there will a plenty or bounty of food throughout the whole year.

2. In Dumangas and in other towns in Iloilo, at around 12 midnight of the new year, the people jingles some twelve (12) coins. Each coin represents a month. The twelve coins were kept for a year to bring some abundance and prosperity to the owner.

3. In Guimbal on the other hand, on the midnight of the New Year, one should wake up and listen carefully to the first sound or noise created by the farm animals. If the sound heard was that of a dog barking, it is a bad omen. If it's a carabao or cow, it foretells of a good harvest.

4. In Balasan, if the carabao cries unga-unga, the harvest will not be good; if its a cattle crying, the harvest will be good.

5. If the church bells are ringing that signals the New Year, the elders are starting to gaze at the sky because they pray it will separate finally as a sign of the coming of the new year.

6. The wearing of dotted clothes or any dress or garments with circle designs in it is also practiced because it symbolizes the coins which is a money.

7. Many people believed that if the first day of the year will start on a Tuesday or Friday, the year will be full of misery, hardship and calamity. If the first day of the year will fall on any other days, the year will pass as great.

8. One should wake up early on the first day of the new year. If this is not done, one will not receive the blessings of the year.

9. From the first day to the twelfth day of the year or of the month of January, people observe the weather conditions. Each day represents each month of the year. The weather condition in each day foretells the weather condition of every month of the year; for example, if its a sunny day on the first day, most days of January will be sunny, if its rainy on the fifth day it means that it will be rainy for the whole or most days of the month of May and if it rains, farmers can start to plant rice, if its windy and rainy on the ninth day, the month of September will be very windy aside from being a stormy month and so on and so forth for other days.


About All Soul's Day:

1. On this day, people believed that the souls or ghosts of the dead returns or go back to the Earth.

2. People prepare local or native delicacies like pancit, suman, baye-baye, muasi, ibos, kalamay-hati etc. for the ghosts or soul some of them are favorites of the ghosts when they are still alive. They do this to appease the ghosts of the dead. A portion of what they prepared is set aside for the ghosts to partake while the rest is shared by the people and their family members.

3. The food is put in a table or set aside in a secluded or isolated room with a lighted candle and drinks (eg. water, coffee, soda, juice etc.) for the ghosts to eat and partake with.

Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs XI

About Building and Moving The House:

1. In erecting the first post that is called "pasag-ang," the position of the so-called "bakunawa" is referred in a book of astrology or local almanac. The post passes through the near center of the head of bakunawa. In following this, the house to be built will be safe from any catastrophe or misfortune.

*bakunawa - A fabulous, mythical large snake or dragon believed to devour the moon at the time of an eclipse; lunar eclipse.

2.  Prior to filling any holes, gap or opening of the first post with cement, a comb, 10-centavo coins or any coins, rice and ramos (holy week palms blessed with holy water) are put in the depth of the hole or opening dugout together with a lighted candle and offered with a short simple prayer. These objects and simple ritual is said to secure peace and triumph to the family in anything that they will face and it also provides protection from evil and harm.

3.The stairs of the house should be fronting the east where there is a sunrise. In this position of the stairs, the family who will settle in the house will have a blissful or happy and  comfortable living everyday.

4. In moving into a new house, the shape of the moon is considered. The transfer or move to the new house happens three days after the full moon or eight days after the new moon.

5. A ceremony like ritual called "himatay", is  being held by many people before transferring to a new house. The relatives and friends were invited to the ceremony. At the start of the ceremony, the chief carpenter or foreman kills a chicken and its blood drippings is dropped on the tools and equipment used in building the house and the posts of the house. Sometimes the blood used is from a pig or boar. It was believed that the blood drives away any accidents, catastrophe or disaster that may happen to the carpenters, their tools and equipment may not harm the carpenters in the next houses they will build and the supernatural beings or creature will not give or brings damage, harm or injury to those people who will reside in the house. The chicken or sometimes the pig is cooked and festivities will start.

6. In Mandurriao, the best day of moving or transferring to a new house is on Saturday.

Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs X

About Anting-anting or Amulet, Charms, Potion and Unusual Power or Strength:

1. People who are living near the sea are usually believing in anting-anting or amulets.

2. On the midnight of Good Friday of a Holy Week, the people are doing all the way to get a piece of the cloth,  hair or any objects used in Santo Entierro. This is mixed with other ingredients and fumigate the nets or fish hooks.

3. For the babaylan and albularyo, the Good Friday is the busiest day because they go to the caves and mountains to get some herbal or medicinal roots or tubers and the skin of the trees or wood. It was believed that these plants were effective.

4. Every Good Friday, the siruhano (Spanish word equivalent is cirujano) or albularyo goes inside the cave to search for anting-anting or amulets.

5. There is a belief in the mountains that if a deer with only one horn called “Ibarra” was killed,  and if a person was stricken with hunger he or she can eat any roots or root crops because Ibarra is considered effective antidote to poison.

6. If one has shot a monkey and is about to die, hold tight both the monkey’s hands. Stomp or step on its mouth so it can no longer bite. In this way, the tari (the ability to sense or see any danger) of the monkey will be transferred to you.


About Gambling and Cockfighting:

1. While walking on the street or road and saw a steel or metal part of the shoe, this is a lucky or fortunate sign when you gamble you will surely win.

2. Any objects that are twins should be put inside the clothes pocket to win in a gambling, or betting.

3. If you are standing and a lizard suddenly jump into your pocket, it is presumed that this is an omen of a good fortune in gambling or betting.

4. For the people who plans to cockfight, they should always sense or feel their roosters.  If its crows alone, it means it will win in the cockfight.

5. All people in the house agrees, wants and at their will for the person who will have a cockfight so that the win would easy and conveniently light.

6. If the rooster crows for seven times at around 9 o’clock or 10 o’clock in the evening and it was not resonated by other roosters, this is a sign that the rooster will be the king of the arena.

7. At night when the rooster is bending its head to reach out from the outside its food in the throat (storage area of the food), it foretells winning in the cockfight.

8. If the rooster is also not sleeping at night, there is a big chance that this rooster will win in the cockfight.

9. A person going to the cockpit arena who has stepped on human or animal feces will surely lose in the betting or cockfighting.

10. A person postpones his going to a cockpit arena when he meets or chance upon a funeral procession because he will only lose in the game for sure. The omen pulls a bad luck.

Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs IX

About Plants or Crops, Farming And Fishing:

1. The major crops are really important for the general farmers in the Philippines that's why some religious customs is linked to planting or cropping. The farmers in Pototan, Iloilo practice the kneeling like a priest while pounding some rice before continuing his work. They kneel first, sprinkle some charcoal in the rice which in turn spread in a big banig and then make a sign of the cross. If he could not do this, he could not expect to have good harvest in the next year.

2. It was believed that in the first planting of rice or in planting of any kinds of crop, the comb, the nganga (chewed betel leaf or something) or bunga or fruits, and old weaving or looming is thrown together with the rice in the farm fields. The objective of the comb is to have an orderliness, neatness or decency of the crops or plants; the fruits is for a bountiful harvest, and the weaving is for the good breed or variety of grains.

3. In planting rice,the lemongrass (an aromatic grass that is also used in cooking chicken or meat stew, roasted or grilled chicken, lechon, dinuguan etc.) is planted first in the first sowing or planting and this was followed by the cheap plants.

4. Before the rice is planted, mixed with bugnay leaf and lemongrass for its growth to be like lemongrass thick and leafy leaves and its fruits, produce or grains will be like the berry fruits of bugnay.

5. In corn, the first seeds or grains thrown to the area or place  is covered with the coconut skins. It was believed that the grains or produces could not be seen by pests or other insects.

6. Before harvesting the rice or corn, one should go around the farm field first.

7. In planting root crops, the "panudlak" is always done thru praying while burying in the ground large stones, sugar and apog or lime together with the first plants or crops. It will produce sweet and big root crops. In harvesting "tambis" (Hiligaynon term for Syzygium Samarangense or Malay apple) and "banayan" (Hiligaynon term for chinese yam or wild yam), no one is allowed to speak loudly or to shout. If there is a noise created, the roots will sink or go deeper into the ground and it will be difficult to grab or pull it out to harvest.

8. Put some "ramos", or consecrated / blessed with holy water dried palm every corner of the kamalig or hut or storehouse that will be the used for storing grains because sometimes even if there's a lot of produced grains of rice the harvest is relatively low.

9. In planting and even harvesting, the farmers in Santa Barbara and New Lucena still uses old magic to ensure the success and  influx of produce. The sweet potatoes are only planted if the sky is covered or shrouded with country clouds or moving clouds unison and the planting is only done by men. Women who can comes close to the sweet potato field at a time when they are being planted, the crops will just be infested by the pests called "balantik". This epidemic or plague of the sweet potatoes has the characteristics of split root crops and causes the infected part to become very bitter and unpalatable.

10. In Guimbal, if the clouds were clustered in the sky that's the time to plant the sweet potatoes.

11. The planting of trees and vegetables is in accordance or in conjunction within a few days or months o season or time of the day.

12. The people never plants any fruit-bearing plants or trees when they are hungry in the fear or just avoiding the produce or fruits will be not so nice.

13. The planting or sowing is not done in the days between waning moon, in the belief that the flowers and fruits will become too small.

14. The planting is done most especially during the days in between half moon and full moon because the flowers or the fruits will become bigger.

15. The trees which barely produce fruits or flower is being shaken with the ringing of the bell in the middle of the mass during Black Saturday of the Holy Week. Doing so will spur the fast growth of the tree and its early flowering or producing.

16. If the trees are big enough to flower, its body is being beaten by tubo (Hiligaynon term for sugarcane) so that its fruits will be sweet.

17. Sometimes, the skin of the tree is being sliced or wounded by a knife or bolo to form its resin.

18. If the salt is put in the sliced or the wounded part (caused by the slicing of a knife or bolo) of the tree, a lot of its fruits produce will fall down to the ground.

19. A black piece of cloth or ribbon is tied around the body of a papaya tree so it can bear or produce more fruits.

20. The first fruits of the plants is being given away to the people if not the tree will no longer bear or produce fruits of good quality.

21. In plants like calabash or bottle gourd and squash, big bottles were hanged from the lattice or trellis so that the plants will produce a lot of long and big fruits produce. A black ribbon is tied around the principal stem or stalk so that the plant will not die.

22. The farmers and the planters has a firm belief that in planting one should observe in the high tide and low tide of water level.

23. In planting crops where the leaves is watched and observed, the seeding should be done during the high tide.

24. If the fruits and flowers were desired, the planting of the root crops is done during the ebb tide so that it will grow some leaves but many roots.

25. In Iloilo, it is a practice to plant banana if a person finished eating a bountiful breakfast or lunch. If this was not done, the fruits of the banana will be thin and will not be of good quality. So, it should be avoided to plant banana if a person is hungry if not it will produce a low quality fruits.

26. In Janiuay, Iloilo, if the first fruits of the pomelo or citrus fruits is sour, the farmers get some tubo (sugarcane) and beat the body of the tree using it. The sugar or sucrose of the sugarcane is believed to transfer to the tree.

27. During the time when the cogon grass, mango and tangerine is flowering, many people get sick with fever. If the fruit of the mangoes is as big as the size of the thumb, many children suffer from itchiness.

28. The coconuts were planted during the full moon to produce huge harvests.

29. If the fruits of the "bariri" (Hiligaynon term for Amor seco) will flourish, the belief is that there is a bountiful harvest that year.

30. The newly sprouted or producing tree should not be pointed by fingers or it may falter in producing.

31. If there's no stars in the sky no one should plant any fruit bearing crops or plants because the tree will only produce a few or it will never again produce any fruits.

32. The name of one of the fruit-bearing tree came from its only use or purpose. It was said that this is the only tree where its main body is used in carving sculptures or images of saints and holy figures so it was called Santol. This tree is used as a refuge of travelers who were caught up by the bad weather. It was believed that it will never hit by a lightning because of its useful purpose.

33. On the other hand, it was presumed that the coconut trees is usually hit by the lightning because there are some of the causes of inebriation and sin.

34. If someone went to the wake of the dead, one should never go ashore to the sea because certainly there will be no fish to catch.

35. In angling or fishing by using fishhook the fishermen drop the mixture or concoction of substance in the water which is included with prayers.

36. If the people are fishing in the sections of fish corrals, they wrap the mixture and tie it in the posts of the corrals. They believed that the smell of the mixture serves as a bait or attraction to the school of fishes to come closer.




 

Superstitions, Beliefs and Customs VIII

About The Aswangs or Witches And Other Mythical Creatures:


Please bear in mind that the witches of the Oriental Asian literature (most particularly Southeast Asia including the Philippines) is different from the witches of the Western culture, tradition and literature.

1. The aswangs are peculiar characters or mythical creatures that can fly.

2. It was said that these creatures possesses power to kill a person by just staring at them or by eating their livers or heart.

3. An aswang can also make a person very sick or ill.

4. If a person has a stomachache, it is believed that his or her liver was eaten by the aswang.

5. The clothes being worn by the child should must be bounded or has a string or dangle of a piece of ginger so that it will not be eaten by the aswang.

6. The aswang can also change the body of a person and replace it with a banana tree while sleeping.

7. It was said that the aswangs can suddenly appear or disappear.

8. People also believed that an aswang cannot carry someone who has some coins or metals in their purse or they carry or bear in their bodies.

9. Other witches or aswangs has the hiwit, the Hiligaynon term for hexes or kulam in Filipino. Some said that if there's someone who died from a swollen big belly it is caused by the hexed doll.

10. It is common that if a person feels some pain in the parts of their body, it is called "pasok". It is said that some of the objects like rock, chopped wood and others are contained in a body in any forms of power. The victim is brought to an albularyo or traditional herb doctor expert in removing the insertion or pasok. Only a few people possessed this kind of ability. The albularyo applied or patched the betel leaves to the sore or painful part of the body. After a few minutes, the applied chewed betel leaf  is removed from the body parts and something from the inside will come out that causes the illness or sickness.

11. In some houses, the people has a bottle of coconut oil which was concocted with different kinds of healing or medicinal herbs. Through this, they can detect or know if a person is an aswang or not. It was said that this concocted coconut oil is boiling if an aswang is within close proximity with it or if the aswang is just near the people who has this oil bottle.

12. This is what the native locals considered. On the third night of full moon, listen to the gecko lizard. Then count one to seven. After it one will go outside the house and will see the aswang.

13. If one will kill the aswang in the form of an animal, you should turn your back to the presumed aswang in front. It is only the shadow of the aswang and the real aswang is on your back.

14. Before the aswang will die, he or she passes to their children or to their favorite child their aswang nature as an inheritance. If the child is willing or consented, a chick will grown in its stomach. He or she will suffer from stomach ache or pain. However if in case he or she doesn't want to be an aswang, he or she should call an albularyo to kill the chick inside its stomach through incantation or chants and other grasses, herbs and shrubs.

15. It was also said that if in the likes or will of the manggagaway, or the evil spirit chanter, black magic sorcerers, that if a person would like to eat their food, their teeth will fall down and if a person is sleeping and is anointed or applied with saliva of the aswang on the ears, it will get infected by their behavior or will also become an aswang.

16. The kamakama, Hiligaynon term for elf and the duwende, local term for dwarf pinch the lips most especially the lips of lovely women.

17. If someone is cleaning in the backyard, don't pile the heap of trash and light the bonfire of trash in the mound of the dwarf  because the dwarf will be very angry. To those who made it, they will get sick.

18. There is also a belief to the deities called tamawo, Hiligaynon term for fairies. It was thought that these creatures dwell in giant woods like lunok (Hiligaynon term for balete tree), bubog and salay.

19. The santermo, or the ghost of the sea sometimes fireball ghost is also scaring the people. Sometimes the santermo capsizes the outriggers. It appears in the form of jumping fire.

20. If a baby cries non stop at night because an aswang or witch or any mythical creature is targetting or watching over the baby, just make a tuob or incense and scrape some shavings out of carabao horns and put into the tuob or incense and put the incense outside the house near the baby and the baby will stop crying.

21. If you have goosebumps or hairs all over your body are rising up starting at dusk, night until early dawn due to an aswang, witch, or mythical creature, just get some chili or cayenne peppers and crush them and combine them with salt and spread them outside all around your house and on the roofs and your fear and goosebumps will fade away.