Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions - SY2223-2T

Jay Edenson A. Bermas | MAWD – 12 | 03/21/2023

03 eLMS Activity 1 – ARG

Instructions

Research for at least one (1) example of Traditional Folk Arts existing in your region or province which is
not mentioned during the discussion. Then, answer the following questions through an essay.

Describe the traditional folk art that you found.

What group of indigenous people are involved in crafting the art?

How would you describe the culture and tradition of the people behind that art?

Answer:

The Maglalatik (also known as Manlalatik or Magbabao) is a folk dance performed by male
dancers. Coconut shell halves are secured onto the dancers' hands and on vests upon which are hung
four or six more coconut shell halves. The dancers perform the dance by hitting one coconut shell with
the other: sometimes the ones on the hands, the ones on the body, or the shells worn by another
performer, all in time to a fast drumbeat.

The Maglalatik folk dance originally executed in Binan, Laguna being a mock-war dance which
demonstrates a battle between the Moros and the Christians on the prized latik or even coconut meat
throughout the Spanish rule, this folk dance can also be demonstrated to pay honor to the patron saint
of the town, San Isidro Labrador.

The name of the dance means "latik-maker", from latik, a coconut product that is used in Filipino
cooking. The culture and tradition were inspired by the occurrence of the past in their city. Apparently,
this dance was created to represent a fight between the Moros and the Christian community over latik
i.e., a product obtained after the coconut milk has been boiled. Furthermore, this dance is supposed to
be performed during festive occasions such as feasts and religious processions.