REACTION PAPER

DANCE: LAKBAY DIWA CULTURAL CEREMONY HIGHLIGHTS

The Philippines is rich in cultural heritage. Prior to modernization and advancement in technology, our
descendants’ way of saying their prayers and expressing their gratitude to the spirits and Gods are thru
traditional dance rituals, ceremonies, singing, offering, etc. especially during festive activities.

I am familiar with dance rituals as these various ceremonials are being portrayed and shown to us
usually in some television shows, movies, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City,
giving us glimpse of old practices. They are being promoted to bring awareness and consciousness to
this generation as to how our ancestors were, how we become, and what we are now because the
present is the result of the influence of this cultural heritage that we all need to give value and
importance.

The short film according to its description is a Diasporic Spirit Dance Ritual, a living dance prayer and
meditation for the world with Spirit Boats offerings of food, flowers, herbs and power objects, and
festooned with prayer flags performed at Ocean Beach, Yerba Buena Gardens, Folsom Street, Bonifacio
Street, and Lapu Lapu Street in San Francisco. It is a Lakbai Diwa project which explores on ancestral
culture of survival, resilience and prosperity.

I like the choreography and the direction of the film. The cultural idea or thought is well executed. The
choreography is intricate and ceremonial. The dance costume is very appropriate and accurately reflects
the theme that is being performed. There is solemnity and peace in the places where it was conducted
which is just proper as it is a dance prayer and meditation. The entire presentation is meaningful and
deep as it brings spiritual connection.

Cultural heritage is a valuable resource in nation building. It defines ones identity and national
consciousness. It makes one nation distinct from another. This includes traditions, norms, beliefs,
practices, rituals, and the like. The promotion of culture and heritage can boost tourism which in turn
leads to economic growth and development of one’s nation. Understanding one’s culture is getting to
know its own identity.

Tribal dances are one way of depicting and showing cultural heritage. It is an expression and an art. We
have a lot of tribal dances in the country. Thus, how can we propagate the tribal dance in nation
building? By continuously adapting and promoting it in school activities to inculcate the need for us to
learn and appreciate these practices.
 REACTION PAPER
MUSIC: SILAKBO

Music is known as the language of the soul. It is an expression of the heart. The things that people
cannot express directly by words in common or regular conversations are coursed thru music. It allows
us to feel the emotions of the writer and get carried away by the voice of the singer.

There are different genres in music – pop, rock, jazz, hip hop, classic, musical theatre, folk music, to
name a few. The music Silakbo subject of this writing is a folk music. According to its definition, it a
music that originates in traditional popular culture or that is written in such a style. It is transmitted
orally from generation to generation.