Lapay-Bantigue Dance

Lapay Dance

The dance was started by Lola Felisa Tupas who was captivated by the
Lapays graceful movements leading her and the fisherfolks of barangay Bantigue
to choreograph the dance by imitating some of the movements. The dance has
evolved and is now recognized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines as one of
the official folk dances of the country. This dance was also recognized during the
Spanish Colonization.

The hovering of birds more commonly known as seagulls or the Lapay, is

one of the most typical and beautiful scenes in Barangay Bantigue, Masbate. The
boats laden with abundant fish caught by small-scale fisher folks eagerly awaited
by fish buyers and the Lapays makes an engaging portrait of the people"s
everyday simple way of life.

This marvelous scenery has inspired old folks to come up with a local folk
dance very much rightfully originated from the graceful movements of the Lapay
and the harmonious relationship it has created to the lives of the fisher folks.
Surely, the seashores of Barangay Bantigue can never be more cherished without
the Lapay.

Bantigue Dance

Another dance came to be known as bantigue after the village from where
it was first performed. There was a story of a mother who promised to dance for
Saint Philomena if her son, who was afflicted by a mysterious disease, would be
healed. The son recovered, especially after an image of the saint touched his body.
Word of the supposed miracle spread, and since then, people hoping to be cured of
their sicknesses have flocked to the village at the mouth of the bay to dance for the
patroness.

The bantigue is danced to a tune similar to Magtanim ay Di Biro, a

Tagalog folk song translated as Planting Rice, in English, a plea for good harvest
and healing from Saint Philomena and an expression of gratitude to the patroness
for bountiful fishing. Dancers sway their arms, bend to the ground, and look
upward to the sky, wearing the barot saya and camisa de chino.
Combination

Ramon A. Obusan (National Artist For Dance) noticed the uniqueness and
ingenuity of the lapay and the bantigue while researching native dances in the
country. He combined the movements of the two dances into one, which it is called
Lapay-Bantigue.

The blend was formally introduced as one of the original folk dances in the
country during the National Folk Dance Workshop at the Cultural Center of the
Philippines and Folk Arts Theater in 1997.

Reference:

http://lapaybantiguefestival.weebly.com/index.html

https://lapaybantigue.wordpress.com/