Group 1-Proposal- SUBLI Cultural Dance

The Subli is a traditional folk dance of the Philippines which is still quite popular today. It
is a ceremonial worship dance honoring the Holy Cross (or Mahal Na Poong Santa Cruz in
Filipino) and is celebrated around a large crucifix which has an image of the sun in silver at its
center. Although the dancers are quite certain of the meaning behind different portions of the
dance and the steps, the origins of the Subli itself remain unclear. There are varying theories,
but even experts and researchers arent in agreement.
The Subli is not just a dance. It is made up of a long sequence of prayers in verse,
songs and dances, which are performed in a set ceremony. It tells the story of the manunubli,
or early dancers, who traveled far to search for the cross. The songs are based on a basic
melody (punto) which can than be expanded upon. The dancers are in pairs (the number of
pairs varies by barrio, but is often one, two or eight pars) of men and women, and dance to the
beat of a stick on a tugtugan (a drum made with iguana skin). The mens and womens dance
moves are quite differentwith the men being quite energetic (leaping and kicking, hitting the
ground with large wooden clappers), and the women performing the more sedate talik (small
gestures with the hands and wrists, and touching of hats and scarves).

Origins
Early natives of the Philippines who lived near the Taal Volcano are known
to have planted similar crosses around the crater of the volcano, in hopes of warding
off the evil forces of nature. The modern religious connotations of the Holy Cross
come from sometime during the Spanish rule in the Philippines, but exactly when
and how is where experts disagree. Around this time, an icon of the cross was
discovered in what is now the municipality of Alitagtag, in the province of Batangas.
The Holy Cross is a patron of many towns in this region, which has a strong tradition
of dance and music. The dance of Subli originated in the barrio (or baryo, rural
village) of Dingin in Batangas approximately 300 years ago, but soon spread to
barrios throughout the area.

Purpose

To promote cultural dance to a youth. And to show the beauty of the cultural
dance