The Wedding Dance

Amador Daguio
The story is set in the mountains of the northern Philippines, in a traditional community unspoiled by outside
influence. The story may have happened before or after the Second World War, one summer night before harvest
time.

Awiyao is a strong, muscular, industrious member of the tribe. He’d been married to Lumnay for seven years
yet without children. He loves Lumnay and is a good husband to her, but he is forced to take another wife as the
laws of their society dictate. Lumnay is a tough, graceful woman who is also an industrious worker. She was a loving
wife to Awiyao, but after the failure to give him an offspring, she had to suffer separation from the love of her life.
Madulimay is the woman chosen to be Awiyao’s new wife. She holds the promise of the continuity of Awiyao’s
lineage. So here, we have a forced love triangle.

On the night of the festivities for his second wedding, Awiyao visits his first wife Lumnay in the house he
built for her. Awiyao is worried that Lumnay is not among the wedding dancers. He invites her to the dance, but she
remains still. He apologizes to her and explains why their situation had to be this way. It is clear that they
understood each other. They do not point fingers or judge one another.

Awiyao expresses his admiration and love for his wife and his regret for giving in to the pressure of
producing an offspring. He encourages Lumnay to accept another husband. Lumnay, however, is adamant and
stands her ground — she will love only one man. Awiyao promises to return to her if he fails again for the second
time, but Lumnay wishes him and his new wife only blessings from Kabunyan. She admits to him how difficult the
situation is for her.

When Awiyao is called back to the dance, he pauses as if to think over his decision. Lumnay accepts his
invitation to the dance and plucks up her courage to face her tribe, the joys of the past and the memories of the
pain keep bringing her. But then, Lumnay stops to reflect on her fate questioning why they had to separate and
plans to air her dissension to the tribe. However, she changes her mind and runs away from the ceremony toward
the bean fields where she lingers for a long while.

The Wedding Dance

Amador Daguio

The story is set in the mountains of the northern Philippines, in a traditional community unspoiled by outside
influence. The story may have happened before or after the Second World War, one summer night before harvest
time.

Awiyao is a strong, muscular, industrious member of the tribe. He’d been married to Lumnay for seven years
yet without children. He loves Lumnay and is a good husband to her, but he is forced to take another wife as the
laws of their society dictate. Lumnay is a tough, graceful woman who is also an industrious worker. She was a loving
wife to Awiyao, but after the failure to give him an offspring, she had to suffer separation from the love of her life.
Madulimay is the woman chosen to be Awiyao’s new wife. She holds the promise of the continuity of Awiyao’s
lineage. So here, we have a forced love triangle.

On the night of the festivities for his second wedding, Awiyao visits his first wife Lumnay in the house he
built for her. Awiyao is worried that Lumnay is not among the wedding dancers. He invites her to the dance, but she
remains still. He apologizes to her and explains why their situation had to be this way. It is clear that they
understood each other. They do not point fingers or judge one another.

Awiyao expresses his admiration and love for his wife and his regret for giving in to the pressure of
producing an offspring. He encourages Lumnay to accept another husband. Lumnay, however, is adamant and
stands her ground — she will love only one man. Awiyao promises to return to her if he fails again for the second
time, but Lumnay wishes him and his new wife only blessings from Kabunyan. She admits to him how difficult the
situation is for her.

When Awiyao is called back to the dance, he pauses as if to think over his decision. Lumnay accepts his
invitation to the dance and plucks up her courage to face her tribe, the joys of the past and the memories of the
pain keep bringing her. But then, Lumnay stops to reflect on her fate questioning why they had to separate and
plans to air her dissension to the tribe. However, she changes her mind and runs away from the ceremony toward
the bean fields where she lingers for a long while.