Folk Dances - Folk Dance Number 2

Folk Dance No. 2

BALITAW

This is a dance about courtship in different places in the Philippines most especially to the Tagalogs and Visayans. The word "balitaw" is coined from a combined two Tagalog words, "balita raw". Balita is Tagalog for news and "raw" is Filipino for "it is said" or "rumored". The balita raw consequently means a rumor or it is rumored. 

In the interpretation or version in the Visayas, the dancers are singing however among the Tagalogs the dancers are not singing. It is shown by the dancers through action the courtship, the flower is used as an expression of their feelings. The giving wholeheartedly of the flower by the lady to the young man symbolizes his acceptance of the young man as a suitor.  There is a folk song included in the balitaw music however the words or lyrics has no connection with the dance.

COSTUME: The girl wears a balintawak while the boy wears barong tagalog and white trousers or pants. There is a rose or any kinds of flower pinned to the camisa of the girl.

Song

Inday, Inday sa Balitaw 

Kahoy nakahapay,

Sandok nakasuksok

Palayok nakataob.

Siyansi nabaluktot

Sinigang na matabang

Kulang sa sampalok.

Inday, Inday sa Balintang

Batang nabalian

Kahoy na sariwa 

Saging na nilaga

Kinuha sa lungga

Binabad sa suka

Gamot sa sikmura.

English Translation

Inday, Inday in the Balitaw

Wood bent low, inclined or flattened to the ground

Ladle worn 

Pot overturned.

Food turner or spatula bent

Bland or tasteless Sinigang stew 

Lacking of Tamarind. (as a sour base)

Inday, Inday sa Balintang

Fractured child

Fresh logs or wood

Hard boiled bananas

Taken from the burrows

Soaked in vinegar 

Medicine for stomach.

Folk Dances - Folk Dance Number 1

Folk Dance No. 1

ALEGRITO

This dance is a heavily favorite dance of the elders of the Barangay Kanipa-an, Janiuay, Iloilo. They usually perform this dance when they have a colorful celebration or pageantry.

The word "alegrito" came from the musical term allegretto which means a fast tempo than the andante but not that fast as allegro. The first part of the music is lively and upbeat while the second part is slow.

Costume: The women wears patadyong and camisa and the men on the other hands, wears white trousers and Barong Tagalog.

Formation: The partners who are standing are facing each other with a distance of about six inches between them. The girl is standing on the right side of its partner. Any number of pairs can participate and perform this dance.

Folk Dances

The Philippines is rich in the materials on native dances. For the Filipinos which is a race who has a deep appreciation for music, the singing and dancing almost consist their entertainment. The people expresses their thoughts through rhythmic movements of the folk dances. Though a lot of the folk dances of the Philippines possesses a ritual attributes there are also beautiful differences related to activities, courtship, for fiesta celebrations and war dances that gives color to a culturally-rich Filipinos, customs, practices and tradition.

There are dances for different occasions. The love is expressed far so in general, the native dances is done relatively small or no such closeness or nearness. The men who are dancing has hankies or the ladies has fans as substitutes to their hands that cannot be held by anyone or the hold-me-not hands.

The Ilonggos are proud of its native dances just like in the succeeding article.





Photo Source:

http://www.ecddancecompany.com/portfolio-view/ragragsakan-cordillera/

https://filipinorennaisance.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/split-bamboo-dance-of-the-perfect-man-and-woman/

Religious Songs Part 1

The author is without a doubt has attended and offered some flowers to the Virgin Mary in the month of May every afternoon in the chapel of Barangay San Antonio, Oton, Iloilo. The following  hymn is taken from the songs of the Flores de Mayo or Flowers of May.

Pagdayaw Kay Maria Santissima

Dayawon ta si Maria

Bitoon labing maanyag 

Maghalad kita sa iya

sing matahum nga mga bulak.

Kon kamo binunyagan,

Kari kamo kay Maria

Kari, kay aton halaran

sing rosal kag azucena.

Ang mga bulak sa Mayo

sa datag sa mga huerta,

nagapahamot kaayo

sa kasingkasing ni Maria.

Yari kami, yari na

O iloy nga nalulutan, 

tan-awa kami, tuluka,

dinhi sa imong atubang.

Mga bulak nga pulongyut

amoy amon daladala

nga amon halad kag

sa mamimihag mong gugma.

Sa pinulongyut sang bulak

ubay ang tagipusuon

ang amon nga kaluyag

sa imo ginapaangkon.

Batuna, o iloy batuna

batuna ang amon halad

kag ang matam-is mong gugma

kabay gihapon mahayag.

Luwasa kami, o Maria

sa manggad nga katalagman

luwasa ang kalautan

sa tanan nga kalautan.

Dili mo Iloy, itugot

dili mo, Maria, bayaan

ang imo nga debotos

nga sang yawa pagdayaan.

Imo kami nga iwagan

sa sini nga kadudulman

agud di kami magtalang

sa dalan sa katarungan.

Buyuka sa pagkaligon

Ang amon tagipusuon

agud amon nga dangaton

ang kinabuhi nga dayon.

Kabay unta mauyunan

kabay mahamutan mo

ang kubus namon nga tipan

nga amon Flores de Mayo.




English Translation


Praise To The Virgin Mary


Let's hail Virgin Mary
Star that is so beautiful
Let us offer to her
some beautiful flowers

If you were baptized
Come to Virgin Mary
Come so we can offer
Roses and Polianthes tuberosa flower.

The flowers of May
In the valleys of orchards
Smells much fragrance
In the heart of Mary

Here are we, here now
Oh affectionate mother,
Look upon us, see
Here in front of you.

Bundles of flowers
Its smell we carry
That we offer and to your
heart that captures.

In the bundles of flower
Accompanied by the heart 
Our desire 
in you we like to own.

Take it, oh mother take it
Accept our offering
And your sweet love
Still hoping it will be revealed.

Save us, o Virgin Mary
in wealth of danger
save the sinners
from all evil.

Never allow mother
Never Mary abandon
your devotees
that the devil will deceive.

Shower us with your light
in this darkness
so we will not led astray
in the path of justice.

Tie or bond firmly
Our hearts
so that we can reach
the eternal life.

May it be liked
May you be pleased 
Our little covenant
Our Flowers of May.

Religious Songs

The Barangay sang Birhen of the Ilonggos is similar to the Block Rosary of the Tagalog. The image of Our Lady of the Barangay is enshrined and transferred to different houses every night.  The following hymn is sung in ascending the house of the people by the image of Our Lady of Barangay:

Barangay March

O, Maria sang Barangay

Kami karon gadayaw sa imo

Pamati-i kag dungga ang

Amon pagpanawag sa imo

Birhen ulay sang Barangay

Bendicione man kami

Sa panimalay, sa kaumahan kag

Sa kadagatan nga amon pangabuhian.



English Translation

Barangay March

Oh Maria of the Barangay
We now extol thee
Hear ye our invocation to you
Pure Virgin  of the Barangay
Bless us
In our homes, in the farms and
in the sea which are the source of our livelihood.

Adlaw Adlaw Kay Maria

Adlaw adlaw kay Maria

Ang pagdayaw kantahon ta,

Upod kay Gabriel ng Arkangel

Ave, maghimaya ka.

Coro:

O Iloy sang Manunubos

Puno ka sing Gracia

Kami diri o luwasa

Sa kalainan sang sala.

Pinalabi ka sang Dios

Iyang putli nga Iloy

Takus man ang amon gugma

Labing labaw sa tanan.




English Translation

Everyday For Mary

Everyday for Mary
We will sing the praises
Together with Gabriel Arcangel
Ave, hail thee.

Chorus:

Oh Mother of the Redeemer
Full of Grace
Please save us here
From the evil of the sins.

You were prioritized by God
Thou pure mother
Worthy is our love
Is above all things.

O Santo Sacramento

O Santo Sacramento

Jesus nga sa altar

Dayawon, saulogon

Ikaw higugmaon

Ikaw higugmaon



English Translation

Oh Sacrament


Oh Sacrament 
Jesus who is in the altar
Praised, worship and celebrated
You will be loved
You will be loved

Folk Songs - Song Number 9

Song No. 9

Lumabaylabay Nga Daw Aso

Lumabaylabay  nga dao aso,

aso pa lamang

ang tanan nga mga butang

sa calibutan,

ang mga matam-is ahay naga-pait man

Anay, nga sa guihapon ahay omalagui lamang 

English Translation

Passing By Like A Smoke

Passing by like a smoke

Just a smoke

All the things

in the world.

those which are sweet oh becomes bitter

Those until now oh just temporary. 

Folk Songs - Song Number 8

Song No. 8

U-hoy Alibangbang

U-hoy alibangbang con icao lumupad,

Dacpa sing maayo ang tanan tanan nga bulac,

Basi sa olihi con nanong madangat,

Pubre si tapulanga sa duta ahay natac-tac.

English Translation

Oh Butterfly

Oh Butterfly if you fly

Catch perfectly all the flowers.

Maybe later we never know what will happen,

Poor balsam rose in the ground it fell.