2. Sakuting and Binislakan are of different origins but
dancers from both dances use sticks during performances.
Binislakan dances use sticks to imitate the Chinese chopsticks
for eating while Sakuting dancers use sticks to stage a mock
fight between the Christians and non-Christians. Both of
them are Ilokano dances.
3. SAKUTING DANCE
Sakuting dance came from Abra, which is home to Ilokano people and
native to the lowlands and Tingawan mountain tribes. It portrays the struggle
between the lowland Christians and the highland non-Christians. Sakuting was
introduced by the Spanish missionaries as a religious ritual.
4. It is customary in the Ilokos region to dance the Sakuting in front of
homes and in town plazas during Christmas time. Group of boys and young
men go to the lowlands and perform this dance from house to house. They
receive gifts from spectators or aguinaldos of money, drinks, fruits or typical
Filipino delicacies, especially prepared for the Christmas season.
This may be danced by both girls and boys or as in the original, by
boys alone.
Costume: Girls wear balintawak style with siesgo skirt. Boys wear red trousers
and barong-tagalog made of coarse, cheap material.
5. BINISLAKAN DANCE
Binislakan dance is from Almazan, Lingayen. It is derived from the Chinese
word, Li-King-Tung meaning “to look backward and forward.” It is coined by the
Chinese settlers in the area long ago. The Binslakan dance was performed to
commemorate the stay of Limahong, a Chinese pirate who built his kingdom in
Lingayen. Binislakan means “ to use sticks.”
6. Students will be challenged more to perform Sakuting ang
Binislakan since both dances are similar in their stick strikes and use similar
footsteps like waltz, step-close, steps, and 3-step turns.
