Singkil Language
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Singkil is a
Maranao The Maranao people ( Maranao: ''Bangsa'' ''Mëranaw''; Filipino: ''mga'' ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranaw, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is a predominantly Muslim Filipino ethnic group native to the region around Lanao Lake in the island of Mi ...
royal dance from the
Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. The dance features a prince and a princess weaving in and out of crisscrossed bamboo poles clapped in syncopated rhythm. While the man manipulates a sword and shield, the woman gracefully twirls a pair of fans. The dance takes its name from the belled accessory worn on the ankles of the
Maranao The Maranao people ( Maranao: ''Bangsa'' ''Mëranaw''; Filipino: ''mga'' ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranaw, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is a predominantly Muslim Filipino ethnic group native to the region around Lanao Lake in the island of Mi ...
princess. A ''
kulintang Kulintang (, ) is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums. As part of the larger gong-chime culture ...
'' and ''agung'' ensemble always accompanies the dance. Singkil has evolved over time, with significant reinterpretations and changes introduced by the Bayanihan folk dance group, such as the incorporation of the elements from the
Darangen ''Darangen'' is a Maranao people, Maranao epic poem from the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao, Philippines. It consists of 17 cycles with 72,000 lines in iambic tetrameter or catalectic trochaic tetrameter. Each cycle pertains to a different self- ...
epic, particularly the episodes involving Prince Bantugan and Princess Gandingan.


Description

Singkil's origins and evolution have been the subject of various debates, but it is mostly agreed upon that it is a relatively new practice by the Maranao people. Sani (1979) suggests that the dance originated in the Basak area, located on the eastern shores of
Lake Lanao Lake Lanao ( Maranao: ''Ranao'' or ''Ranaw'') is a large ancient lake in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake in Mindanao, the deepest and second largest lake in the Philippines, and counte ...
, which then spread to other villages in the 1930s. On the other hand, de los Santos (1979) claims that the dance was brought to Lanao, specifically to Rumayas,
Lumba-Bayabao Lumba-Bayabao, officially the Municipality of Lumba-Bayabao ( Maranao: ''Inged a Lumba-Bayabao''; ), is a municipality in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 45,909 people. Geography ...
(formerly known as Maguing), by an individual from
Cotabato Cotabato, formerly and still commonly referred to as North Cotabato and officially the Province of Cotabato, is a landlocked Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Soccsksargen Regions of the Philippines, regi ...
,
Maguindanao Maguindanao (; Maguindanaon: ''Dairat nu Magindanaw''; Iranun: ''Perobinsia a Magindanao''; ) was a province of the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). From 2014 to 2022, its provincial capital ...
. Although de los Santos does not provide a specific date for its introduction, it is believed that the Singkil dance appeared relatively recently. Kanami Namiki also suggests that a plausible origin may have been the bamboo dances practiced by lowland Christians, and their adoption by the Maranao people could have occurred when folk dance was incorporated into the Physical Education curriculum in Lanao's public schools during the early 1900s. Abdullah Madale (1976) includes a photograph in his book, labeling it as the Singkil dance and depicting two parallel bamboo poles. He describes it as a typical outdoor dance of the Maranao people. Similarly, Steven Fernandez, the founder and artistic director of the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG), speculates that the Singkil dance may have originally been a dance-game played by Maranao children. However, it underwent a significant transformation into a noble royal dance named Singkil by the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company. Henrietta Hofer-Ele was one of the first to conduct a research on the execution of the dance which is now called Singkil. Encouraged by her teacher, Francisca Reyes Aquino, Hofer-Ele conducted her study on a unique bamboo dance that she had witnessed in
Marawi Marawi, officially the Islamic City of Marawi (Maranao language, Maranao: ''Bandar a Marawi''; ; Jawi script, Jawi ''(Batang Arab)'': ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the ...
during a regional inter-school athletic event. Initially, the dance had no name and was performed only by girls, usually one or two dancers, holding fans in their hands. Aquino had intended to study the dance herself but lacked local connections, which hindered her investigation. However, Hofer-Ele, originally from nearby
Cotabato Cotabato, formerly and still commonly referred to as North Cotabato and officially the Province of Cotabato, is a landlocked Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Soccsksargen Regions of the Philippines, regi ...
province, had family connections that enabled her to pursue her research. In the mid-1950s, Hofer-Ele encountered difficulties finding individuals knowledgeable about the dance since it was rarely practiced and gradually fading away. Fortunately, Princess
Tarhata Alonto-Lucman Tarhata Alonto-Lucman (June 26, 1926 – February 26, 2021) was a Filipino politician and Maranao royalty who was the first female governor of the province of Lanao del Sur. Early life Tarhata Alonto-Lucman was born on June 26, 1926, to a Marana ...
, who belonged to royalty, generously shared her knowledge with Hofer-Ele. Other Maranao ladies later taught Hofer-Ele the specific movements involving fans. One of these ladies impressed Hofer-Ele with her singing while skillfully handling three fans in each hand. While Hofer-Ele's research did not provide evidence that the dance was originally a royal dance, the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company, to which she later presented her findings, interpreted it as such. This interpretation may have been influenced by the fact that the person who taught Hofer-Ele the dance was of royal descent. Bayanihan made adjustments to the dance, including designating the principal dancer as a "princess" accompanied by an attendant holding a royal umbrella. The princess wore a gold-colored long-sleeved blouse, a
malong The malong is a traditional Filipino-Bangsamoro rectangular or tube-like wraparound skirt bearing a variety of geometric or okir designs. The malong is traditionally used as a garment by both men and women of the numerous ethnic groups in the ma ...
, and a veil on her head. She used two fans, adorned with brass nails, and danced between criss-crossed bamboo poles. Originally, there was no musical accompaniment, except for the sounds of clanking brass anklets and clashing bamboo poles. The dance was subsequently named Singkil after the brass anklets worn by the original dancer, Princess Tarhata. Later, the Bayanihan folk dance group incorporated the Singkil dance into a storyline based on an episode from the
Maranao The Maranao people ( Maranao: ''Bangsa'' ''Mëranaw''; Filipino: ''mga'' ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranaw, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is a predominantly Muslim Filipino ethnic group native to the region around Lanao Lake in the island of Mi ...
epic,
Darangen ''Darangen'' is a Maranao people, Maranao epic poem from the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao, Philippines. It consists of 17 cycles with 72,000 lines in iambic tetrameter or catalectic trochaic tetrameter. Each cycle pertains to a different self- ...
. The narrative revolves around Prince Bantugan's romantic pursuits of Princess Gandingan. However, as punishment for his past infidelities, supernatural forces hinder his pursuit, causing disturbances and obstacles. In this reinterpretation developed by Bayanihan, male warrior-assistants were introduced alongside the female court ladies accompanying the princess. Bayanihan played a significant role in popularizing Singkil and introducing notable modifications to the original dance. Creative directors of the group reimagined the dance in the early 1950s to enhance the cast and characters for their world tour at the Brussels Expo in 1958. Their version of Singkil features multiple fan dancers, a prince, warriors with swords and shields, crisscrossed bamboo poles, and an umbrella attendant. The performance incorporates theatrical vignettes portraying a segment of the Darangen epic, where Prince Bantungan rescues Princess Gandingan during an earthquake caused by forest spirits. The Bayanihan interpretation of Singkil involves the female lead dancer portraying Princess Gandingan of the
Darangen ''Darangen'' is a Maranao people, Maranao epic poem from the Lake Lanao region of Mindanao, Philippines. It consists of 17 cycles with 72,000 lines in iambic tetrameter or catalectic trochaic tetrameter. Each cycle pertains to a different self- ...
epic, wearing ankle rings to keep time while dancing. In the Maranao epic, Princess Gandingan is trapped in the forest during an earthquake caused by the ''diwatas'' (or the forest spirits) of the Kingdom of Bumbaran. These forest spirits abduct the princess to teach Prince Bantugan a lesson for his philandering ways. The falling trees during the earthquake are symbolized by the crisscrossed bamboo poles, clacked together to create a unique, syncopated rhythm. Princess Gandingan makes a graceful entrance, manipulating two elaborately designed fans called
apir Apir, also spelled aper, are traditional folding women's hand-held fans of the Maranao people of the Philippines. They are a part of the traditional dress of Maranao women. Royal ''bai'' (ladies) carry an apir in their right hand during ceremonie ...
, accompanied by the clapping of the bamboo poles. As the gong crashes, she dances alone between the slow clapping of the bamboo poles, without any musical accompaniment. A female dancer representing the loyal slave of the princess accompanies her throughout the ordeal. Afterward, a male dancer portraying the legendary Prince Bantugan performs a dance round and through the bamboo poles, wielding a shield and a sword. His entrance signifies his determination to rescue the princess from the ''diwatas''. Other dancers skillfully manipulate the
apir Apir, also spelled aper, are traditional folding women's hand-held fans of the Maranao people of the Philippines. They are a part of the traditional dress of Maranao women. Royal ''bai'' (ladies) carry an apir in their right hand during ceremonie ...
fans, symbolizing auspicious winds. The dance requires agile footwork to avoid the moving bamboo poles, representing the forces the characters must overcome. The performance concludes with the princess returning home with the prince. Despite the popularity of the
Bayanihan Communal work is a gathering for mutually accomplishing a task or for communal fundraising. Communal work provided manual labour to others, especially for major projects such as barn raising, "bees" of various kinds (see below), log rolling, and ...
version, criticisms arose regarding their approach. Their research failed to acknowledge that the
Maguindanao Maguindanao (; Maguindanaon: ''Dairat nu Magindanaw''; Iranun: ''Perobinsia a Magindanao''; ) was a province of the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). From 2014 to 2022, its provincial capital ...
, a neighboring Muslim ethnolinguistic group, also had a variation of Singkil, which involved both a princess and a prince attempting to court her. The Bayanihan popularized this more elaborate Maguindanao version, erroneously claiming it to be the famous Maranao dance. Maranao customs prohibit males and females from dancing together. This discrepancy in the Bayanihan's presentation was highlighted by various critics. Peter Gowing, for instance, observed that Manila-based cultural dance troupes, including the Bayanihan, often took liberties with costuming, choreography, and musical accompaniment, making the dances unrecognizable to the
Moro people The Moro people or Bangsamoro people are the 13 Muslim-majority ethnolinguistic Austronesian groups of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan, native to the region known as the Bangsamoro (lit. ''Moro nation'' or ''Moro country''). As Muslim-majority ...
. Usopay Cadar, a Maranao composer, musician, and ethnomusicologist, further criticized the inaccuracies, such as the use of non-Maranao musical accompaniment, incorrect playing of the gongs, violation of the prohibition on male and female dancers appearing together, and male dancers wearing open vests that went against customs. Steven Fernandez also noted that the portrayal of Singkil as a royal dance contradicts the Maranao traditional culture, as in the indigenous Maranao context, entertainment is provided for the royal family, rather than the royal family members themselves dancing during celebrations. Maranao customs also prohibit unmarried women, especially those from the sultan's family, from dancing in public. In response to these criticisms, the
Bayanihan Dance Company The Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company is the oldest dance company in the Philippines.Maranao The Maranao people ( Maranao: ''Bangsa'' ''Mëranaw''; Filipino: ''mga'' ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranaw, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is a predominantly Muslim Filipino ethnic group native to the region around Lanao Lake in the island of Mi ...
dance. Furthermore, the male dancers have been wearing long-sleeved shirts with closed fronts, aligning with cultural norms and customs.


Adaptations


Bayanihan

When the
Bayanihan Dance Company The Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company is the oldest dance company in the Philippines.

Other versions

PCN (Pilipino Cultural Night) festivities held by foreign-based student groups and other theatrical dance companies have modernised interpretations of the dance, resulting in unorthodox portrayals of the ''Singkíl'' by even the most esteemed of Philippine folk dance choreographers. The Philippine Barangay Folkdance Troupe portrays the prince dancing scarves rather than with a sword and a shield. Some dance companies have even fused the ''Singkíl'' with
ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
, or make use of multiple layers of overlapping bamboos.


In film

The ''Singkíl'' was performed in the 2001
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...
independent film '' The Debut''. The movie was directed by
Filipino American Filipino Americans () are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipinos in North America were first documented in the 16th century and other small settlements beginning in the 18th century. Mass migration did not begin until after the end of the Sp ...
filmmaker Gene Cajayon and starred
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. The film captured the essence of Filipino traditions and the blending of these with modern American culture.


See also

*
Tinikling Tinikling (traditionally written tiniclín) is a traditional Philippine folk dance which originated prior to Spanish colonialism in the area. The dance involves at least two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and a ...
, a similar Spanish-era Filipino folk dance using bamboo poles *
Maharadia Lawana The Maharadia Lawana (sometimes spelled Maharadya Lawana or Maharaja Rāvaṇa) is a Maranao epic which tells a local version of the Indian epic Ramayana. Its English translation is attributed to Filipino Indologist Juan R. Francisco, assisted by M ...
, the Maranao version of the Ramayana epic *
Maranao people The Maranao people (Maranao language, Maranao: ''Bangsa'' ''Mëranaw''; Filipino language, Filipino: ''mga'' ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranaw, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is a predominantly Muslim Filipino people, Filipino ethnic groups of the ...


References

{{Reflist, 30em Dances of the Philippines Culture of Lanao del Sur Culture of Southeast Asia