Maglalatik

CREATIVE AND COLORFUL; these are the things that you can use to label the Philippine
dances that define its culture. An example is the Philippine dance called the 'Maglalatik' that is
sure to catch the fancy of those looking for a traditional dance that goes down to the basics, and
of course a dance that is colorful and festive. This dance is also called as 'Magbabao' which can
mean 'the one using the 'bao' and the 'bao' is the coconut shell. Throughout the dance, the
viewers of the dance can expect that most of the dance moves that will be performed by the
dancers will focus on the use of these 'baos' or the coconut shells and some of the noises or the
music that will be used by the dance will be generated by these coconut shells.

During the Spanish regime, the present barrios of Loma and Zapote of Biñan, Laguna,
were separated. With coconut shells as implements the people of these two barrios danced the
Maglalatik, or Magbabao, a war dance depicting a fight between the Moros and the Christians
over the latik (residue left after the coconut milk has been boiled).
 The first two parts of the dance, the Palipasan and the Baligtaran show the heated
encounter between the two groups. The last two parts, the Paseo and the Sayaw Escaramusa
show the reconciliation between the two groups. According to the legend the Moros came out
victorious, thus getting the coveted latik. The Christians, not contented with the result of the
war, sent an envoy to the Moros to offer peace and to baptize them.

All dancers that participate in this classic dance are male and they all harness and use
the coconut shells. These shells are attached on many points of the body of the dancers- in the
chests, the backs, the thighs and the hips. The dancers will also hold their triangular formed
coconut shells in their hands and they used these shells to tap the coconut shells that are fitted
on their bodies and they use these to generate the music that will accompany them when they
are dancing. The Moros in this dance will wear the red trousers and the Christian group will
wear the blue trousers. This dance will involve some simple movements and simple repetitions.

The following will be a listing of the steps that are generally performed in the dance.

 First step will require dancers to make 6 to 8 counts of jogging to settle to their place
 Then four steps forward while pounding the chests
 Four basic clap cycles while the dancers are in place
 Another four basic clap cycles in order for the dancers to get to two rows
 Another 8 quick clap cycles to the ripple effect
 Another 8 quick clap cycles that will allow the dancer to circle around the partner, and
next up is the Circle Up.
 The dancers will make 8 counts+1 -4 count for the first clap
 Dancers will clap after the one 8 count and this should be done 8 times, then the
finishing clap
 Dancers will make 8 high-low clap cycles in order to move into position.
 Another 8 cycles of 6 hit clapping
 The dancer will then make 16 counts for the tricks with another round of clapping in the
background
 Dancer will make 4 basic to get to the two sides
 Dancer will make 8 quick clap cycles for the battle
 Dancer will make 4 quick clap cycles in order to get to the end
 And right after the last clap, the dancers then make their pose.
 The best Maglalatik dancers are found in Zapote. In the daytime during the town fiesta
of Biñan, the Maglalatik dancers go from house to house performing this dance for money or a
gift. In the evening they dance Maglalatik in the religious procession as it moves along the
streets. They perform the dance as an offering to the patron saint of the farmers, San Isidro de
Labrador.

Like many native Filipino dances, it is intended to impress the viewer with the great skill
of the dancer, and in some Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) circles, it has been noted that the dance,
Maglalatik, consists of a trapping and boxing method hidden in a dance.

Sources:

1. http://www.likha.org/1992/09/maglalatik.html

2. http://philippinestravelsite.com/folk-dance-philippines-maglalatik/

3. https://filipinoartistsnewzealand.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/klickety-klick-maglalatik/