• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Pangalay Dance

Official Site of the AlunAlun Dance Circle

  • Home
  • Pangalay Dance
  • The AlunAlun Dance Circle
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact ADC
You are here: Home / News / Pangalay as Icon of Philippine Arts in Philippine Arts Festival 2013

Pangalay as Icon of Philippine Arts in Philippine Arts Festival 2013

March 29, 2013 by Nannette Matilac Leave a Comment

 

The Philippine Arts Festival (PAF) opened with pangalay choreographies performed by the AlunAlun Dance Circle to celebrate Philippine Arts Month on 6 February 2013 at the Marikina Riverpark. The  PAF is sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The festival is under the supervision of NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. and executive director Emelita Almosara. The PAF Opening Program  is in cooperation with the City of Marikina and in cooperation with Damlay, Inc. of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina.

“Bituing Marikit” in pangalay choreography with Nannette Matilac, Rama Marcaida and the young dancers from various schools doing the Figure 8 posture and gesture.

The 2013 Philippine Arts Festival promoted icons of Philippine arts. The Opening Ceremony of the PAF began with a pangalay choreography to the choral rendition of “Bituing Marikit.” The pangalay choreography was led by Nannette Matilac featuring the use of the janggay or metal claws.  The janggay is also called saling kuku, sulakengkeng or salukengkeng in the Sulu and Tawitawi provinces. Rama Marcaida with young dancers from various schools also danced in a circular formation much like a sunset ritual.

 

This was followed by a dance suite on three songs by Yoyoy Villame whose iconic songs can also be considered as significant to Philippine folk and pop culture. The pangalay dance movement vocabulary was utilized in interpreting Villame’s “Granada”, “Buchikik” and “Nasaan Ka Darling?”. Despite the whacky rendition of these innovative songs, the pangalay choreography remained faithful to the tradition of pangalay dancing–slow, meditative and defiant of space-time,  relying on rhythm of the breath and not the musical beat.

“Granada” by Yoyoy Villame and ADC dancers Jimo Angeles and Levi Azarcon.

 Pangalay, also known as igal among the Sama and paunjalay among the Yakan, is an important cultural icon and symbol of our cultural heritage.  Aside from pangalay, other icons of Philippine arts  presented in the PAF are the kundiman and the balagtasan.

“Buchikik” by Yoyoy Villame and with ADC dancers: 8-year old Roni Matilac, Mannex Siapno (back turned to audience), artistic director Ligaya Amilbangsa sporting mask and puppets and Louanne Calipayan.

Photos by Levi Azarcon

Filed Under: News

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

Dance Classes

Every Sunday
3pm – 6pm

Pangalay Dance Studio

No. 9 JP Rizal corner MH del Pilar Street,
Calumpang, Marikina City

Like Us on Facebook

  • The Abstract
  • News
  • Upcoming Performances
  • Program for the Paris Performances
  • International Dance Conference on Pangalay and Related Dance Cultures

Copyright © 2025