PFD Originated In Luzon

These Philippine folk dances are first introduced and played and being popularized by the people in Luzon, Philippines
Biniganbigat Biniganbigat means every morning. This is a story of a boy who is very much in love with a girl. He wants the girl to pity him for his death is drawing nearer and nearer. The words of the song tell that he would die soon if the girl would not accept him. This courtship dance was found in Bangued, Abra. View More...
Haricuti Tagalog Dance Haricuti is a lovely, traditional dance found in many towns of Quezon (formerly Tayabas) province, where it is customary to perform the dance in order to enliven the social gathering and to introduce the guests to one another. There is much fun in this dance. A man or woman may start the dance, but to make this description easier reading we shall think of the first dancer as a man and refer to him as A. A places a hat on his dead and dances around locking for a partner. He usually dances the waltz, close step, waltz turn to the tune of a Philippine melody, waltz tempo, while looking for a suitable partner. When he has made a choice, he stops in front of the selected partner, whom we shall call B, and invites her to dance by placing his hat on her head. The guests clap in approval of his choice. B has to dance in acceptance because a refusal is considered a breach of etiquette. The pair may perform any kind of dance step. Whoever of the two is the better dancer or is in the better mood, may lead in the dance. The steps usually performed are the sway balance series, waltz, close step, the couple may just perform a ballroom waltz. After a while A sits down; B then selects a new partner of the opposite sex. The dance is continued in the same manner until almost every guest has been invited to dance. Good dancers perform beautiful, intricate steps and arm movements. There is no definite pattern followed. Each pair may perform any kind of step and may dance as long as they desire. VARIATION: In provinces other than Quezon, a large kerchief (bandana) instead of a hat is placed around the neck of the chosen partner. The dance is started by a couple, who after dancing for a while, stop for the man to put his kerchief around the neck of another woman, and for the woman partner to transfer hers to a man. The recipients of the kerchiefs are the new dancers. The audience claps to animate the dancers. View More...
Jota Rojana This festival dance from Nabua, Camarines Sur, has some similarities with the Areuana dance from Iloilo. It is performed in social gatherings like weddings and baptismal parties. Usually, the old people start the dance, followed by the younger ones. Dancing couples follow one another, varying the figures. View More...
Basulto (Pampango) Basulto is a love song in satirical form. The dance is usually performed with the accompaniment of the song. One verse of the song is sung, then a figure of the dance is performed. The singing and dancing are done alternately.
Jota Zapatilla (Ilocano) Zapatilla is a kind of footwear worn mainly by the young women of the Philippines especially during the Spanish regime. This version of the jota was popular in the Ilocos regions. It is simpler and easier to perform than the other jota dances. View More...
La Jota Ilocano This festival dance is known throughout the Philippines in different versions, the one described below being from Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The old people of Paoay, especially the women, are very fond of dancing. On special occasions like the Guling-guling (Eve of Ash Wednesday), Tambora (Eve of Christmas), and the feast days of Sta. Maria and Sta. Rosa, for which the old people dress in their best, there is much dancing. Couples dance as long as they can and perform as many dances as they know one after the other without intermission. If there are not enough men dancers, two women dance together. La Jota is also danced during wedding and baptismal parties and other social gatherings.
Lanceros (Tagalog) Lanceros is a popular square dance found in many regions in the Philippines. This dance must have been brought here by the American for some of its movements, figures and music resemble the American square dance called Lancers. This dance was originated in Pangasinan, Laguna. It was performed by some Laguna High School students from Pagsanjan. The dance was taught to them by the old people who used to dance it during their younger days. It is much simpler than the Lancers found in the Visayan Islands and in other regions of the Philippines. View More...
Maglalatik or Magbabao Dance originated in Luzon During the Spanish regime, the present barrios of Lorna and Zapote of Biñan, Laguna, were separated. With coconut shells as implements the people of these two barrios danced the Maglalatik, or Magbabao, a war dance depicting a fight between the Marcos and the Christians over the latik (residence left after the coconut milk has been boiled). The first two two parts of the dance, the Palipasan and the Baligtaran show the heated encounter between the groups. The last two parts, the Paseo and the Sayaw Escaramusa show the reconciliation between the two groups. According to the legend the Moros came out victorious, thus getting the coveted latik. The Christians, not contented with the result of the war, sent an envoy to the Moros to offer peace and to baptize them. The best Maglalatik dancers are found in Zapote. In the daytime during the town fiesta of Biñan, the Maglalatik dancers go from house to house performing this dance for money or a gift. In the evening they dance Maglalatik in the religious procession of the farmers, San Isidro de Labrador. View More...
Pastora Dance from Pangasinan Pastora is a courtship dance popular in many towns of Pangasinan, especially in Bugallon, Bayambang, Malasiqui, and San Carlos. The dance is named after a girl called Pastora. The boy sings as he dances. In the song he tells the girl, Pastora, to pity him. He kneels and pleads to the girl to accept his love. He tells her that if perchance he is drawn away from her, the handkerchief will remind him of her always. Then he bed her goodbye. There are slight variations in the versions formed in different towns. View More...
A La Jota Tagalog Dance from Luzon This festival dance was discovered in San Pablo, Laguna. It is gay and lively like the other jotas found in different regions of the Philippines. This dance usually performed during wedding celebration. View More...
Lubi-lubi Bicol This Ballroom-folk dance is very popular in the Bicol regions. It has many variations. The one described here is a different version from the one given in the Philippine National Dances. This dance may be introduced as a social mixer. Costume. Any Filipino costume that can be used. View More...
Pabo Tagalog This dance game from the tagalog regions is good to introduce in a social gathering where the members are not acquainted with each other. It definitely helps to aquaint the members faster through the exchange of partners and adds greatly to the enjoyable time of all. The dance is called Pabo because the odd dancer at the center of the circle struts around like a turkey as he looks for a desirable partner. COSTUME. Dancers are dressed in any Filipino costume. Music. No habanera as given here is divided into two parts: A and B, played as many times as necessary.
Pandanggo Ilocano This dance is as popular as the jotas and is also of Spanish origin. This may be danced in any social gathering. This particular dance was found in Moncada, Tarlac. There are many different versions of Pandanggo and they are known variously as Pandanggo, Pandangueando, Pandang Pandang, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Pandanggo sa Sambalilo, etc. COSTUME . The Girl wears black skirt and white camisa of Maria Clara style, and Boy, barong tagalog and white or black trousers. Both may also wear the typical Ilocano costume. View More...