Maglalatik or Magbabao is a war dance representing in a picture a battle between the Moros and the Christian over the

latik, the remainder left after the coconut milk has been boiled. At sometime in the course of Spanish rule, with coconut shells as tools, the people of the barrios of Loma and Zapote in the town of Bian in the province of Laguna danced the Maglalatik. The Palipasan and the Baligtaran, the first two portions of Maglalatik, reveal the hot combat between the Moros and the Christians. The Paseo and the Sayaw Escaramusa display the reconciliation between the legend, the two groups. As stated by the legend, the Moros won and got enviously wished latik. The dissatisfied Christians sent a representative to the Moros to offer peace and baptism to them. During the town fiesta of Bian, Laguna, the Maglalatik dancers are carrying out this dance from house to house for money or a gift in the daytime, and in the evening, they perform Maglalatik in the religious procession as it goes from one place to another along the streets as a sacrifice to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of the farmers. Here are the steps of maglalatik dance: 1. 6 8-counts jogging to get to place

2. 4 steps forward while pounding chest 3. 4 basic clap cycles in place

4. 4 basic clap cycles to get to two rows

5. 8 quick clap cycles to do the ripple effect

6. 8 quick clap cycles to circle around partner

7. CIRCLE UP 2 8-counts + 1 4-count for first clap clap after 1 8-count 3X Finishing clap

8. 8 high-low clap cycles to move to position

9. 8 cycles of 6 hit clapping

10. 16 counts for tricks with clapping in the background

11. 4 basic to get to two sides

12. 8 quick clap cycles for the battle

13. 4 quick clap cycles to get to end after last clap POSE

---*Note:*---

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Basic_steps_in_maglalatik_folk_dance#ixzz1j1IUViFm

Maglalatik - Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut meat during the Spanish rule, this dance is also shown to pay tribute to the towns patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. It has a four-part performance such as the palipasan and the baligtaran showing the intense battle, the paseo and the escaramusa- the reconciliation. Moro dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are male ; with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips.