BENDIAN

BENDIAN/BENDAYAN
-Is a traditional Benguet circle dance symbolizing
the unity and harmony of the community. While historical
versions of this dance featured entire villages, many
modern versions have smaller numbers of participants.
The dancers collectively move their arms in various
patterns.
-The dancing is accompanied by gongs and drums.
Performances can last for long periods of time, and
traditionally ends on the sound of the loudest oway or war
cry. The term “Bendiyan” came from the word “bedey”,
Ibaloi for “fatigue” or “tiredness”. Bendiyan then means
“dance until exhausted” or literally translates to “let’s
see who gets tired first”. Men and women, young and
old, can participate in the dance.
 HISTORY
-Bendayan is a significant dance and
originated in Kabayan, Benguet. Bendian
is performed for many reasons. Some of
which are to heal a prolong illness, relieve
natural calamities such as famine and
drought, and to celebrate a bountiful
harvest. However, the biggest Bendian is
to celebrate a victory in war and a
successful headhunt.
-According to Listino (quoted in Fiar-od, 2011), the
earliest written accounts relates the bendiyan performance
as originally a headhunting ritual. It was performed in
celebration for the arrival of head takers called “ulul”
because of their successful headhunting raid; the dancers
perform around the captures head of the enemy. But since
then, it has evolved in parallel to the life of the people
practicing it.
 BENDIAN/BENDIYAN
-Today, the bendiyan is staged as a ceremonial dance with the
following participants: the ‘sedsed’ or lead man; the ‘ulol-olol’
or lead dancer; the gongs and solibao players; and dancers,
which may include the rest of the community members. The
dance is commenced by the entrance of the ‘sedsed’ and ‘ulol-
olol’ at the center of the grounds bearing spears, shields, and a
dummy head. Spears and shields are stacked at the paringal.
 BENDIAN/BENDIYAN
-Listino (2011) further explains that ideally, the men dances in one
direction in the outer circle, and women dances in the inner circle of
the opposite direction with the men. A smaller inner circle next to the
head composed of girls is formed with the girls dancing in sync with
the women. This concentric formation should be tight to ensure a
bountiful harvest for the community. The dance positions represent
symbols drawn out in two contexts; Headhunting and Agricultural.
 INSTRUMENTS USED
Gangza (flat gong) -is a single hand-
held smooth-surfaced gong with a
narrow rim. A set of gangsa, which is
played one gong per musician, consists
of gangsa tuned to different notes,
depending on regional or local cultural
preferences. In "toppaya" style, the
musicians play the surface of the gangsa
with their hand while in a sitting
position, with a single gangsa resting on
the lap of each musician
 INSTRUMENTS USED
In the "pattung" style, a
gangsa is suspended from the
musician's left hand and
played with a padded stick
held in the musician's right
hand. In the "pattung" style of
playing, the players are
standing, or they keep in step
with the dancers while
bending forward slightly.
Solibao (drum)is a conical tenor drum played by the Bontoc and Ibaloi
people of the Philippines. It is played with the palms of both hands. It
usually appears as part of an ensemble along with
the kimbal, pinsak, kalsa and palas. Sulibao is
made from a hollowed out log covered
with deer skin.
Takik (triangle steel bar) –percussion
instrument consisting of a steel rod bent
into a triangle with one corner left open.
It is suspended by a gut or nylon loop.
 ETHNIC ATTIRES
• KUVAL – is the bahag or g-
string, an indigenous body,
covering for the Ibaloy men.
Ordinary kuval is colored,
dirty white called pinangsas.
 ETHNIC ATTIRES
• Women wear a blouse
(kambal) and a skirt (aten or
divet).A large rectangular
woven clothing about 3 to 5
feet wide, and 3 to 4 feet long.
It’s simply worn like a skirt and
secured around the waist.
DANCING POSITIONS
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN
1.) PINESBEKAN
- Attack and take cover! The right
hand is extended upward, the left
extended downward, the fingers
almost touching the ground. The
body is tilted slightly to the left. The
left foot is lifted two inches above
the ground and kicked in small
motions to the side. Hopping
motions are made with the feet in
rhythm with the drums and gongs.
The ulol dancers grip their spears,
with their shields held parallel to the
ground.
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN
2.) SALAWASAO
-Announcing to the world, we are
the bravest victorious warriors!
Both hands are raised above the
head like curved carabao horns.
The palms face each other and
moved up and down from the
wrist. The arms swing left to the
right as the body, held upright, is
swayed from side to side.
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN

3.) KINITANGAN
-Relax, let us rest. Peace is
with us. It is time to enjoy our
dance. Arms akimbo, body
swaying from side to side.
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN

4.) KINIKIYAN
-Challenge, to the enemy: Better
that you serve us than be our slaves.
Right hand is bent from the elbow
and tucked under the armpit,
cutting the hips. The left hand
extended forward facing upward in
begging position.
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN
5.) INUSHUNGAN
-Protection: Warrior’s protectors of
the community. Men, women, boys
and girls are willing to die to the
last man.
-Both hands are thrust forward
slightly above the head. With the
palms facing downward, the hands
are moved up and down as though
in blessing from a minister. Dancers
face front.
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN

6.) INUDIYAN
Turn or Reverse to confuse the
enemy. The dancers maintain their
positions as in the inoshongan. But
this time they reverse directions. At
another point, the men face the
women and the women face the
men. Boys face the girls, and vice
versa.
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN

7.) PINAJOSAN
Fortune: Warriors carrying the
spoils, now we start for home. Both
hands are clipped to the sides like
wings, palms facing upward and the
body bent forward. Heads downcast
and swaying from side to side.
 HOW TO DANCE BENDIAN

8.) INNABAYA
Put up your hands and receive the
spoils to be carried home for your
loved ones. Hands clipped to the
sides, bent at the elbow, with palms
facing upward. The body held
upright, swaying from left to right.
From here on, the dancers are
dismissed. This is the last bendiyan
position.
Foot Dance Step of Bendian: 
Step on ball of Left foot and brush-kick Righ foot
diagonally/obliquely backward right. Feet together, while knees are
slightly bended. Walk heavily. Repeat.
..\UNTITLED VIDEO - MADE WITH CLIPCHA
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