Pandanggo 

is a Philippine folk dance which has become popular among the rural folks and found in
many places in the Philippines. The dance evolved from Fandango, a Spanish folk dance, which arrived
in the Philippines during the Hispanic period. This dance, together with theJota, became popular among
the illustrados or the upper class and later adapted among the local communities. In the early 18th
century, any dance that is considered jovial and lively were called Pandanggo. There are many versions
of this dance. Each locality have its own version. Local dancers have many ways of doing the
Pandanggo, but there was one thing in common: it has gay and sprightly figures. It may be danced at any
social gathering and is usually accompanied by clapping. In some places, the musicians did not stop
playing until four to five couples have danced, one after the other. When one couple tires, another takes
its place until there are no more who want to dance. The musicians play faster and faster after each
repetition until the dancers are exhausted. Two of the most popular version of Pandanggo as a
performing art are the Pandanggo sa Ilaw from Mindoro, and Oasioas. Another Philippine folk
dance, Carinosa, has Pandanggo as its base dance. Pandanggo is still danced by many people but
mostly in religious rituals and processions such as the Pandangguhan sa Pasig, during the procession of
St. Martha, and the Sayaw sa Obando. While Fandango in Spain was superseded by its modern version,
the Flamenco, it has evolved into a popular folk dance, and as a ritual dance in many religious
processions in the Philippines.

This popular dance originates from Lubang Island, Mindoro in Visayas. 'Pandanggo sa ilaw' means
'Fandango with light'.The term pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance
characterized by marking time with a clack of castanets, snapping of fingers, and stomping of feet in
triple-time rhythm.

A dancer of this grace dance is called 'pandanggera', and dances with three oil lamps (tinghoy), or
candles in glasses instead, balanced on her head and on the back of each hand.

Pandanggo sa ilaw / Oasis

Origin: Lubang Island, Mindoro (Visayas)

This popular dance of grace and balance comes from Lubang Island, Mindoro in the Visayas
region. The term pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance
characterized by lively steps and clapping that varies in rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular
pandanggo involves the presence of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, balanced on the head and
the back of each hand.
After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would celebrate by drinking wine and by dancing,
swinging and circling a lighted lamp. Hence, the name "Oasiwas" which in the Pangasinan
dialect means "swinging." This unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil
lamp on the head while circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth or
fishnet. The waltz-style music is similar to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw.
This popular dance of grace and balance comes from Lubang Island, Mindoro in the Visayas region. The term
pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by lively steps and clapping that
varies in rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular pandanggo involves the presence of three tinggoy, or oil lamps,
balanced on the head and the back of each hand.

After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would celebrate by drinking wine and by dancing, swinging and circling
a lighted lamp. Hence, the name "Oasiwas" which in the Pangasinan dialect means "swinging." This unique and
colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on the head while circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped
in a porous cloth or fishnet. The waltz-style music is similar to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

PANDANGGO SA ILAW 

Nang pista sa nayon 

Nagsayaw ka hirang 
Napakagandang pagmasdan 
Ang maliliit mong hakbang 
At ang tatlong basong 
May taglay na ilaw 
Ay tinimbang mong lahat 
Sa ulo't sa mga kamay 
Ngunit 'di mo alam 
Na minamasdan kita 
At nabihag mo ako 
Sa iyong pandanggong kay sigla 
Magbuhat na noon 
Ay inaalala ka 
Dahil sa walang lakas 
Ang puso kong limutin ka 
Sa pandanggo mo'y 
Hanga ang lahat 
Tangan mong mga ilawan 
Ni isa'y walang lumagpak 
Puso kong ito 
Nais ko liyag 
Ay ingatan mo na rin 
Pagka't ikaw ang may hawak.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw
 Pandanggo sa ilaw. The word ‘pandanggo’ is taken from the Spanish word
‘fandango’. The dance is characterized by the lively steps performed in conjunction with the
clapping while the dancers are following the ¾ beat. Again, this dance calls for graceful
balancing acts so that the lights held by the hand will not fall. This dance is originally from
Oriental, Mindoro.
Pandanggo or Pandanggo sa ilaw literally means the 'Fandango with the Light' in
Englishlanguage. And yes from the name itself, this dance is that dance that involved the
manipulation of the lights. This dance is from the Lubang Island, Mindoro. The term 'pandanggo'
which means 'fandanggo' in the Spanish language is actually dance that is characterized by
marking time with the use of clack of castanets, the snapping of the fingers and the stomping of
the feet in the triple-time rhythm. The person that performs this graceful dance is often called as
the 'pandanggera'. The 'pandanggera' then dances holding three oil lamps which are called as the
'tinghoy'.
There is another version of this dance, and the dance resembles the steps that are
performed by the dancers of the 'pandanggo'. This other version of the dance is called the
'Oasiwas' and this dance has its origins in Lingayen in Pangasinan. This town in the province is
known for its fishing industry and their version of the 'pandanggo' is related to the fishing
industry. Right after their good catch, the fishermen in this town will usually celebrate by
drinking wine and by dancing, and by swinging and circling with the lighted lamps on the hands
of the dancers. The swinging and the circling moves of the dancers gave the name 'Oasiwas'
which in the local dialect is known as 'swinging'.
This unique dance from the province of Pangasinan is a colorful dance that
requires the dancers to balance the oil lamps on their head while doing their circling in their
hands the lighted lamps that are wrapped in the porous cloth or wrapped in the fishnets. And the
music that accompanies the dancers is similar to the music that accompanies the dancers of the
'pandanggo'. This traditional Philippine dance is now the center of a famous festival in Oriental
Mindoro. And the dance is now considered as one of the rituals that the females perform in order
to send off and to welcome the fishermen of the town.
In Oriental Mindoro, this festival with the dance at the center of it all is called the
'Pandang Gitab' or the 'Festival of Lights'. This festival was coined and developed after the now
famous Filipino folk dance called the 'pandanggo sa ilaw' and the 'dagitab' or the flicker of light.
This festival that is hosted in Oriental Mindoro is celebrated every second week of November
and this is done as a major event as part of the commemoration of the founding anniversary of
Oriental Mindoro. The festival is a new festival that showcases the dance the culture of the
province and this festival is often participated in by hundreds of performers and participants
coming from the many sectors in the province.
Some of the participants to this festival include the following;

. Schools

. Cooperatives

. Non-government organizations
The typical 'pandanggo sa ilaw' that is performed in the coastal towns of Oriental
Mindoro and Pangasinan will be performed as a send off to the town fishermen and will be
performed as well as a welcome to the participants. But in this festival that is popular in Oriental
Mindoro, the dance is taken out of the beaches and into a whole new audience. The people in the
province of Oriental Mindoro has taken their famed 'pandanggo sa ilaw' out of the beaches and
into the streets of its capital, Calapan. And with the dancers holding these lights, the streets
leading to the capital can be likened to an oasis of light as these streets are covered by a number
of dancers garbed in the traditional dresses of ternos and barongs. The costumes that are used by
the dancers of this festival may vary and some of the dresses are plain and some are flashy too.
The dresses may also feature floral prints and mostly these dresses are done in orange hues. The
participants of the dance and the festival endures the heat of the candles as they travel the length
of the 2-km stretch of street in the capital as they carry their candles in glass, in bamboos and in
coconut shells. The event not only served to promote tourism in the area, but as a way to promote
awareness for the dance called 'pandanggo'.

Pandanggo sa ilaw 
Origin: Lubang Island, Mindoro (Visayas)

This popular dance of grace and balance comes from Lubang Island, Mindoro in the Visayas region.
The term pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by
lively steps and clapping that varies in rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular pandanggo involves the
presence of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, balanced on the head and the back of each hand.

After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would celebrate by drinking wine and by dancing,
swinging and circling a lighted lamp. Hence, the name "Oasiwas" which in the Pangasinan dialect
means "swinging." This unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on the head
while circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth or fishnet. The waltz-style
music is similar to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

Pandanggo sa ilaw / Oasis 

Origin: Lubang Island, Mindoro (Visayas)
This popular dance of grace and balance comes from Lubang Island,
Mindoro in the Visayas region. The term pandanggo comes from the
Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by lively steps and
clapping that varies in rhythm in 3/4 time. This particular pandanggo
involves the presence of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, balanced on the head
and the back of each hand.

After a good catch, fishermen of Lingayen would celebrate by drinking

wine and by dancing, swinging and circling a lighted lamp. Hence, the
name "Oasiwas" which in the Pangasinan dialect means "swinging." This
unique and colorful dance calls for skill in balancing an oil lamp on the
head while circling in each hand a lighted lamp wrapped in a porous cloth
or fishnet. The waltz-style music is similar to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw.

Pandanggo or Pandanggo sa ilaw literally means the 'Fandango with the Light' in English
language. And yes from the name itself, this dance is that dance that involved the
manipulation of the lights. This dance is from the Lubang Island, Mindoro. The term
'pandanggo' which means 'fandanggo' in the Spanish language is actually dance that is
characterized by marking time with the use of clack of castanets, the snapping of the fingers
and the stomping of the feet in the triple-time rhythm. The person that performs this graceful
dance is often called as the 'pandanggera'. The 'pandanggera' then dances holding three oil
lamps which are called as the 'tinghoy'. 

There is another version of this dance, and the dance resembles the steps that are performed
by the dancers of the 'pandanggo'. This other version of the dance is called the 'Oasiwas' and
this dance has its origins in Lingayen in Pangasinan. This town in the province is known for its
fishing industry and their version of the 'pandanggo' is related to the fishing industry. Right
after their good catch, the fishermen in this town will usually celebrate by drinking wine and by
dancing, and by swinging and circling with the lighted lamps on the hands of the dancers. The
swinging and the circling moves of the dancers gave the name 'Oasiwas' which in the local
dialect is known as 'swinging'. 

This unique dance from the province of Pangasinan is a colorful dance that requires the
dancers to balance the oil lamps on their head while doing their circling in their hands the
lighted lamps that are wrapped in the porous cloth or wrapped in the fishnets. And the music
that accompanies the dancers is similar to the music that accompanies the dancers of the
'pandanggo'. This traditional Philippine dance is now the center of a famous festival in
Oriental Mindoro. And the dance is now considered as one of the rituals that the females
perform in order to send off and to welcome the fishermen of the town. 

In Oriental Mindoro, this festival with the dance at the center of it all is called the 'Pandang
Gitab' or the 'Festival of Lights'. This festival was coined and developed after the now famous
Filipino folk dance called the 'pandanggo sa ilaw' and the 'dagitab' or the flicker of light. This
festival that is hosted in Oriental Mindoro is celebrated every second week of November and
this is done as a major event as part of the commemoration of the founding anniversary of
Oriental Mindoro. The festival is a new festival that showcases the dance the culture of the
province and this festival is often participated in by hundreds of performers and participants
coming from the many sectors in the province. 

Some of the participants to this festival include the following;

. Schools

. Cooperatives

. Non-government organizations

The typical 'pandanggo sa ilaw' that is performed in the coastal towns of Oriental Mindoro and
Pangasinan will be performed as a send off to the town fishermen and will be performed as
well as a welcome to the participants. But in this festival that is popular in Oriental Mindoro,
the dance is taken out of the beaches and into a whole new audience. The people in the
province of Oriental Mindoro has taken their famed 'pandanggo sa ilaw' out of the beaches
and into the streets of its capital, Calapan. And with the dancers holding these lights, the
streets leading to the capital can be likened to an oasis of light as these streets are covered
by a number of dancers garbed in the traditional dresses of ternos and barongs. The
costumes that are used by the dancers of this festival may vary and some of the dresses are
plain and some are flashy too. The dresses may also feature floral prints and mostly these
dresses are done in orange hues. The participants of the dance and the festival endures the
heat of the candles as they travel the length of the 2-km stretch of street in the capital as they
carry their candles in glass, in bamboos and in coconut shells. The event not only served to
promote tourism in the area, but as a way to promote awareness for the dance called
'pandanggo'.
Pandanggo sa ilaw. The word ‘pandanggo’ is taken from the Spanish word ‘fandango’. The
dance is characterized by the lively steps performed in conjunction with the clapping while the
dancers are following the ¾ beat. Again, this dance calls for graceful balancing acts so that
the lights held by the hand will not fall. This dance is originally from Oriental, Mindoro.
These aforementioned Philippine folk dances are ethnic in nature and origin. On the other
hand, there are several Philippine folk dances that were influenced by some Western
countries as some of these had colonized Philippines in the past. One such country is Spain.
Some of the so-called “influenced” Philippine folk dances are the following: Pandango sa Ilaw,
Cariñosa, Balitao and Rigodon.
To conclude, these folk dances whether ethnic in origin or not reflect the lively culture that the
Filipinos have. These dances may be diverse but through these cultural forms, the Filipinos
are unified and proud by way of having Philippine folk dancesthat are truly one of the bests
in the world
Pandanggo sa Ilaw is commonly liked dance of grace and balance from Lubang Island, Mindoro Occidental. The term
pandanggo is derives from the Spanish word fandango, a dance described by lively sterps and clapping that changes
in rhythm in three-fourth time. Pandanggo sa Ilaw consists of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, balance on the head and the
back of both hands.
Ossiwas is a dance characterized by swinging and circling a lighted lamp. In Pangasinan, it means swinging. Being
the only one of its kind, this colorful dance needs skill in balancing an oil lamp on the head while circling in both
hands a lighted lamp enclosed in a fishnet or porous cloth. The waltz-style music of this dance is having qualities in
common to that of Pandanggo sa Ilaw. Waltz is a dance in which couples glide to music having three beats to a
measure