Pas – an Saging
Dance researchers: Ismael “Maeng” E. Java
Lilybeth P. Eslabon
Annotator/s: Jasper Maguad
John Rovic G. Solanoy
Resource Person/
Dance Presenter: John Mark M. Alpay
Ethno linguistic Origin: Hiligaynon (Visayan)
Classification: Occupational
Background Context:
Pas-an Saging is a Visayan occupational dance
found in Barangay Tanawan, Kabankalan City, Negros
Occidental. It depicts the different ways of carrying
and transporting bananas for sale or bartering while
crossing the river or riding a boat (balsa). It can be
danced on any occasion, but it is most appropriate
during festivals.
Movements/Steps Particular to Dance:
1.Balancing movements while riding a boat (Balsa:
Bamboo tree tied up together)
2.Kaluskos (folding the pants upward)
3.Washing of Feet (Panghugas) and Face (Panghilam-
os)
Dance Properties:
Costume:
Dancers are dressed in peasant work costumes. Boys carry “tuwang-
tuwangan” with bunches of bananas on their shoulders, while girls carry
“likin” or any used clothes for their heads.
Props:
“Tuwang-tuwangan” made up of bamboo with two bunches of bananas
hanging on both ends (artificial bananas made up of any materials) boys, and
1 cluster of real bananas for girls.
Music: 2/4, composed of 2 parts A&B
Count: 1 and 2 and, 1 and 2 to a measure
Formation: Partners stand opposite each other about eight feet apart, girls
standing at their partner’s right when facing the audience.
Introduction
Take two steps turning R in place, bow to audience
(cts. 1 and 2) ----------------- 2M
Figure I
Partners face audience.
A. Girls carry saging on their heads, holding the cluster of bananas
with their hands while boys carry tuwang-tuwangan on their
shoulders with R arm holding the tuwang-tuwangan and L hand
hanging. With R foot leading, take 4 close steps R,L,R,L with knees
slightly bent (cts. 1,2 to a measure). ---- 4M
B. In a striding position, With R foot forward and L foot in rear,
execute 4 shuffling steps in place (cts. 1 and 2 and) ------- 2M
C. Repeat B pivoting with R, facing opposite directions. ---------- 2M
D. Repeat A to C -------------- 8M
Figure II
A. Starting with R foot, Partners take 16 walking steps moving
clockwise (cts. 1,2 to a measure) Arms as in Fig. 1 --------- 8M
B. Repeat A moving counter-clockwise taking 8 walking steps (1,2 to
a measure) ---------- 4M
C. Girls continue 8 walking steps turning R around in place while
boys assume to place the tuwang-tuwangan with saging on the
floor/ground for 8 cts. (1,2) ------------- 4M
Figure III
Partner face opposite directions (Girl facing away from the audience and boys towards
audience)
A. Execute change steps moving sideways to partner’s place, moving R to R shoulders
towards each other (cts. 1 and 2 to a measure). Boy’s arms on the waist, girls hand as in
Fig. 1 A.-----4M
B. Repeat A to the left ------------4M
C. Starting with R foot, execute 8 change steps turning R in every 2 measures. Girl’s arms in
lateral. Boy’s arms in forearm movement for 4M. Then boys continue to execute the
change step but this time with a raise in front on ct. and on every measure, with trunk bent
forward, arms doing a “Kaluskos” (assume to fold the pants) in every measure for 4M. --8M
D. Girls continue to execute the change step moving quarter left on the first 2 measure and
right in place in every 2 measures, trunk erect, and arms in lateral position. Boys execute
change steps while arms in forearm movement. While circling the girl clockwise. ---- 8M
Figure IV
A. Starting with R foot, execute 2 escotis steps with a hop moving sideward R
and L. Boys face left at the start of the first count. Boys’ arms on waist. Girls
face the same direction as boys, holding the banana overhead and twisting the
body right and left alternately on ct. 2 of the 2nd measure ------------ 2M
B. Boys repeat A for 1 measure and face the audience on the 2nd measure. Girls
continue their movement but face the audience. ------------ 2M
C. Repeat the movements but this time the right shoulders of the boys are
facing away from the audience for 3 measures and face the audience on the 4th
measure. Girl’s right shoulders are towards the audience for 2 measures and
facing the audience for another 2 measures. ------4M
Note: Boy does the movement crossing the tuwang-tuwangan.
Figure V
Partners face opposite directions standing with R shoulders towards the
direction by making a square pattern direction.
A. With R foot leading, partners take 4 waling steps R, L alternately Boy hands on
2nd position for to measures and moving around the tuwang-tuwangan. Girls’
right hands hold the banana overhead and left hands hold skirt, raising the skirt
moving upward twice. -------------- 2M
B. Repeat A making bigger steps (raise the knee about 45 degrees angle). Boys
place hands on the waist while girl’s arms as in A and left hand shaking the skirt
8 times. --------- 2M
C. Repeat A and B --------------- 4M
D. Repeat A to C ----------------- 8M
Note: Girls execute the movement for 12 measures, then facing the audience, girls hold the
bunch of bananas to be placed on the floor finishing in a squat position for 4 measures.
Figure VI
A. Partners face each other and bend trunk slightly forward, L foot supporting the weight of
the body and R foot is placed and extended forward. Execute “panghugas”, hands scooping
the water ct. 1 and wash legs on ct. 2 bending R and L alternately for every 2 measures. The
movements are done simultaneously. ------4M
B. Repeat A but change the position of the legs (R foot supports the weight of the body and L
foot extended forward) and bend L and R alternately for every 2 measures. ----4M
C. Partners face audience obliquely left, repeat the position of legs in A but this time execute
“panghilamos” of the faces, scooping the water for q measure and washing the face twice for
1 measure. Repeat but change the position of the legs. -------4M
D. Repeat C but partners face audience obliquely right. ------4M
E. Partners take their goods with the girl taking the bunch of bananas and place on their head
while boys carry the tuwang-tuwangan for 4 measures. Partners assume a standing position
for 4 measures. Boy’s R hand is holding the bunch of bananas on the R edge of the tuwang-
tuwangan and L arm on the opposite side. The body leans forward and backward as if
carrying a heavy bunch of bananas. -----8M
Figure VII
A. Execute eight walking steps moving clockwise with R foot leading,
with girl following the boy. Arms as in Fig. VI E. ---------4M
B. Starting with R foot take four change steps, continue moving
clockwise. --------4M
C. Repeat A and B counterclockwise with R foot leading. --------8M
“Padayaw sa Tuwang-Tuwangan”
D. Girl: with a bunch of bananas on top of the girl’s head, execute walking steps
while swaying the skirt parallel to the right and left side alternately on waist
level for 8 times or 4 measures. Then, still holding the skirt and placing it on the
waist with arms bending and elbows facing obliquely outward, in stride
position, execute shuffling steps in place turning right to face partner.
Boy: Execute walking steps. The tuwang-tuwangan of the boys will be placed
on the R shoulder for 3 measures with arms in hayon-hayon for 5 measures.,
turning right to face partner. ----8M
E. Partners Repeat Fig VII D. the boy transfers the tuwang-tuwangan to the L
shoulder. In the last 2 measures, partners turn left to face each other. This time
the tuwang-tuwangan of the boys should be placed horizontally on the
Figure VIII
A. Partners execute shuffling steps right and left alternately, girls
holding the bananas over their heads while boys tuwang-tuwangan
are placed horizontally on the shoulders while holding both ends. -4M
B. Starting with your R foot execute change steps with a raise in front;
both feet are far apart from each other. Boys and girls arms as inA.4M
C. Repeat A and B turn right on the last 2 measures and bow. 8M
