Maglalatik or Magbabao
(Tagalog)
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.
COSTUME. The Moros wear red trousers and black undershirts with long sleeves and the Christians, blue trausers and whine undershirts with long sleeves. Coconut shells are attached to the dancers: two places on front just below the shoulders, two pieces at the back of shoulders and two at the back of the waist, two pieces above the knees and one piece in each hand. The coconut shells at the shoulders (front and back) and waist are circular while those above the knees and those held by the hands are triangular in form and are attached to the dancers. For grown-up boys the torso may be bare and the trousers rolled up.
MUSIC. Is divided into five parts: Introduction, A,B,C and D. It was composed by the late Dr. Francisco Santiago especially for this dance. The original music for this dance was rhythmic sounds roduced by two bamboo sticks against each other with guitar accompaniment.
COUNTs 1, and , 2, an or 1,2,to a mueasure in 2/4 time and 1,2,3 to a in ¾ time.
FORMATION. The dancers stand in two columns facing the audience, the Christians at the left side and the Moros at the right side. The two columns are six feet apart and the dancers on each side are four feet from each other. From four to six pairs may compose a set. The dancers opposite each othe, when facing, are partners.
X 1 x
X 2 x
X 3 x
X 4 x
I. Step Right foot forward and twist body to left (ct 1 or cts. 1, and ) step Left in place and face front ( ct. 1 or cts. 1, and ), step Left original place and face front (ct. 2 or cts. 2, and ).--- 2 M
II. Jump forward with feet together or with the Right foot a little bit ahead of the Left and twist body to left (ct. 1 or cts. 1, and), step Left backward to original position and face front (ct. 2 or cts. 2, and), step Right backward and twist body to right (ct. 1, or cts. 1,and), step Left in original place and face front (ct. 2 or cts. 2, and)--------------------------------------------2M
III. Jump forward with feet together or with the Right foot a little bet ahead of the Left and twist the body to the left (ct. 1, or cts. 1, and) step Left backward to the original place and face front(ct. 2 or cts. 2, and) , jump backward with the feet together or with the Left foot a little bit ahead of the Right and twist the body to the right (ct. 1 or cts. 1,and), step Left forward to original position and face front (ct. 2 or cts. 2, and)----------------------------------2 M
This is the same as step II but with the jump forward and backward.
Note:
1. In all the above steps, the knees are relaxed and slightly bent.
2. To move forward in Step I the R foot makes a bigger step forward than backward and the L steps forward instead of in place.
3. To move forward in Steps II and III, make bigger jump forward that the backward jump and the L steps forward instead of in place.
Hand Movements:
Note:
R (L) hand meant the conconut shell held by the R (L) hand, R (L) hand, R, (L) knee means the coconut shell attached above the knees and the same on the shoulders and waist.
Strike R knee with R hand (ct. 1), L knee with L hand (ct. end), front of L shoulder with R hand (ct. 2), front of R shoulder with L hand (ct. end), back of R shoulder with R hand (ct. 1), back of L shoulder with L hand (ct. end), back of waist at R side with R hand (ct. 2), vack of waist at L side with L hand (ct. end) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
The Christians enter from left side and the Moros from right side. Starting with R foot , walk or march briskly to places. Strike coconut shells held by the hands against each other, starting with R hand going upward and the L downward first.
Continue striking shells on every count of every measure wit Right (Left) and Left (Right) moving upward and downward alternately until all are in proper places (See diagram below – Moro,solid line and Christians continuous line). Dancers from each side cross each other alternately in front and down in rear a their columns cross each other --------------------------------------------------------------------------------16 M
. INTERLUDE
Music Interlude.
Face front
(a) Step Left in place (ct. 2 of 16th M of Introduction)----------------------------------------------------------1 ct
(b) Execute Step I Four times. Arms in hayon- hayon, R and L in front alternately. Do not click coconut shells. The R hand follows the movement of the R foot, that is , if the R foot is in front the R hand is in front and it the R foot is in rear the R hand is in rear. The L hand does the same, following the movements of the L foot.--------------------------------------------------------------------8 M
Music A.
Face front.
a.) Execute Step I four times in place. Do the hand movements------------------------------------8 M
b.) Execute Step I four times, casting off , No. I’s on both sides leading. Do the same hand movements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 M
At the end of this figure the leaders may be about the middle of the way only (of the former lines)
Music B First time.
a) Execute Step II four times until No. 1’s reach the foot of the former formation. Do the same hand movements-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 M
b) Continue Step II four more times, No. 1’s turning inward . Do the same hand movements -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 M
Music B. Second time.
a.) Execute Step III four times going to proper places. Do the same hand movements.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 M
b.) Partners face each other, repeat (a) in place -------------------------------------------------8 M
INTERLUDE
Music C. First 8 measures.
Partners face each other .
Repeat movements in the Interlude on the ENTRANCE.----------------------------------------------------8 M
Music C. From 9th measure of first time and the whole second time.
Partners face each other.
a.) Starting with Right foot, take four steps forward to meet at center. Arms swinging naturally at sides.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
b.) Strike coconut shells in any part of partner’s body four times (4 cts.).-------------------------2 M
c.) Starting with Right foot, take four steps forward to partner’s place, passing by Right shoulders. Arms as in (a) (4 cts.).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
d.) Turn right about and repeat (a)--------------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
e.) Repeat (b) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
f.) Repeat (c ) , going to proper places.--------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
g.) Repeat all ( a – f) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 M
Note:
Instead of striking each other’s shells in (b) and (e) a stunt called baligtaran (back-to-back roll) may be performed. Do the baligtaran alternately with coconut shell striking.
Music Introduction.
Turn Right shoulder toward partner ready for figure V. A good dancer in the group goes to center to be soloist for the next figure.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
Music D. First time.
Circle dancers.
(a) Starting with Right foot, take sixteen waltz steps forward moving clockwise. Click own coconut shells on cts. 2,3 of every measure, sideward right and left alternately.--------------------------16 M
(b) Turn right about. Repeat (a), moving counterclockwise.-----------------------------------------------16 M
Soloist. The soloist at center improvises his movements. He performs turns, leg-parting jumps, stunts, or any dance steps. At times he weaves in and out of the circle dancers. Sometimes he stands at the center to let the circle dancers strike him with their coconut shells.----------------------------------------------------32 M
Music D. Second time.
Circle dancers face center of circle.
Waltz forward Right , click coconut shells overhead on cts. 2, 3 (1 M), waltz backward L, arms down at sides (1 M)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
a.) Turn right about and repeat (a)-----------------------------------------------------------------------2 M
b.) Repeat (a) and (b), seven more times turning right about every two measures.---------28 M
Soloist. Continue improvising movements.---------------------------------------------------------32 M
Note:
In figures V and VI, the circle dancers and the soloist are doing their movements simultaneously.
Music A.
Execute Step I moving forward, Christians turning left and Moros turning right to exit. Do the same hand movements.--------------------------------------------------------------------------16 M
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