Maskota
(Ibanag)
Maskota is a wedding dance popular in the province of Cagayan and Isabela. It is named after the skirts that the women of those wear when attending parties, weddings, and other social gatherings. The cut or style of the skirt is called maskota. It is a full, tailless skirt. The dress material usually has large flower prints. This dance may be performed by newly married couples or by other pairs attending the party. While the newly married couple is dancing, two plates are placed on the floor, one on each side of the couple. All the relatives and friends of the bride put their money and other gifts on the plate beside the bridegroom. The relatives and friends of the groom on the other hand place their monetary and other gifts on the bride's plate. Each party tries to outdo the other in giving gifts to the couple. After the dance, the bridegroom takes the two plates and gives them to the bride as their common property.While the couple is dancing, a singer stands near them and sings original verses describing the pair. At social gatherings other than a wedding party the man who wishes to dance approaches the woman he intends to dance with, executing close steps. He bows in front of her with his hands moving from first to second position, palms up. If the lady accepts the invitation, she stands, otherwise she shakes her head in rejection .He goes to his next choice and if she accepts, she stands and the man leads her to the center of the room where they dance the maskota. When old people perform this dance, they do not have definite steps and figures and they move where they please covering as much space as they want to. The number of figures, therefore, depends largely on the mood and ability of the dancers.
The steps of the dance described below were selected from the traditional steps and figures performed by the old people of Cagayan and Isabela.
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